What would you do with a third thumb?
July 3, 2017 7:18 AM Subscribe
The Third Thumb Project The Third Thumb investigates the relationship between the body and prosthetic technology in new ways. It is part tool, part experience, and part self-expression—a model by which we better understand human response to artificial extensions. It instigates necessary conversation about the definition of ability.
The origin of the word prosthesis meant "to add, put onto"—so not to fix or replace but to extend. The Third Thumb is inspired by this word origin, exploring human augmentation and aiming to reframe prosthetics as extensions of the body.
The origin of the word prosthesis meant "to add, put onto"—so not to fix or replace but to extend. The Third Thumb is inspired by this word origin, exploring human augmentation and aiming to reframe prosthetics as extensions of the body.
So.. this is a bit strange, but ever since I was a child I've had what I generally term, a phantom thumb.
I've not had anything amputated so I don't know if the sensation is the same, or even similar to phantom limbs, but it might be?
On both my hands feel like there's a thumb opposite the existing one.
The sensation fades, sometimes much stronger than others. (Right now reading this it's super strong and I keep trying to move my spare thumb on my right hand out of the way of the keyboard whilst I'm typing)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:38 AM on July 3, 2017 [16 favorites]
I've not had anything amputated so I don't know if the sensation is the same, or even similar to phantom limbs, but it might be?
On both my hands feel like there's a thumb opposite the existing one.
The sensation fades, sometimes much stronger than others. (Right now reading this it's super strong and I keep trying to move my spare thumb on my right hand out of the way of the keyboard whilst I'm typing)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:38 AM on July 3, 2017 [16 favorites]
I have a Pathfinder character with a prehensile tail and it's pretty awesome, even though I can't (yet) triple-wield like Nightcrawler.
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:57 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:57 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Depending on where the third thumb is located, it could make you a very, very popular person in certain situations.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:08 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Dip Flash at 8:08 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
"I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?"
posted by scottatdrake at 8:20 AM on July 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by scottatdrake at 8:20 AM on July 3, 2017 [5 favorites]
A prehensile tail might be interesting, though.
Just ask Christopher Walken.
posted by slkinsey at 8:25 AM on July 3, 2017
Just ask Christopher Walken.
posted by slkinsey at 8:25 AM on July 3, 2017
What would I do? Duh...three thumbs up for the best movies.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:27 AM on July 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:27 AM on July 3, 2017 [4 favorites]
What would you do with a third thumb?
Suck it, probably.
posted by jonmc at 8:33 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Suck it, probably.
posted by jonmc at 8:33 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ayyyyy...yyy!
posted by zamboni at 8:42 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 8:42 AM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do you bite your third thumb at us, sir?
posted by BungaDunga at 8:44 AM on July 3, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 8:44 AM on July 3, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is neat!
Though, the toe-petal thing seems a little clunky for fine movement. The range of motion my real thumb needs in order to be useful for anything more than grabbing hammers seems to require a lot more than two knobs. But, it's a fun start, and I have a hard time thinking of a similarly easy to implement option that would work better, except perhaps mirroring the real thumb, which is only useful for very specific motions. (A tongue opposite your thumb slaved to your real tongue would be pretty great . . . but challenging to build.)
When they introduce the direct neural interface version, sign me up for alpha testing. (Though, what I really want is another arm or two, preferably with quick-release tool attachments in place of some of the fingers. That'd be worth risky surgery and years of physical therapy to learn to use.)
posted by eotvos at 8:49 AM on July 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
Though, the toe-petal thing seems a little clunky for fine movement. The range of motion my real thumb needs in order to be useful for anything more than grabbing hammers seems to require a lot more than two knobs. But, it's a fun start, and I have a hard time thinking of a similarly easy to implement option that would work better, except perhaps mirroring the real thumb, which is only useful for very specific motions. (A tongue opposite your thumb slaved to your real tongue would be pretty great . . . but challenging to build.)
When they introduce the direct neural interface version, sign me up for alpha testing. (Though, what I really want is another arm or two, preferably with quick-release tool attachments in place of some of the fingers. That'd be worth risky surgery and years of physical therapy to learn to use.)
posted by eotvos at 8:49 AM on July 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
three thumbs up for the best movies.
Citizen Kane gets two thumbs up and therefore so does Killzone 2posted by straight at 9:17 AM on July 3, 2017
The SDF said so
But I would give it three thumbs up
But I don't have three thumbs
So you can lend me one
And together three thumbs up for Killzone 2
Me and you giving Killzone 2 its due
But that leaves one
Idle thumb
Who thought this game was a little bit dumb
Neat idea.
Notyou has the best idea--prehensile tail FTW! Failing that, I want a removable third hand. Because everybody needs an extra hand occasionally.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:22 AM on July 3, 2017
Notyou has the best idea--prehensile tail FTW! Failing that, I want a removable third hand. Because everybody needs an extra hand occasionally.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:22 AM on July 3, 2017
Gain a third thumb, lose a middle finger.
posted by Robin Kestrel at 9:25 AM on July 3, 2017
posted by Robin Kestrel at 9:25 AM on July 3, 2017
the bass area at Guitar Center is bad enough as it is
posted by thelonius at 9:39 AM on July 3, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 9:39 AM on July 3, 2017 [8 favorites]
As a person with arthritis in my dominant hand, I can think of many ways this would make my life easier.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:00 AM on July 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:00 AM on July 3, 2017 [3 favorites]
New musical instruments would be invented!
posted by TrinsicWS at 10:47 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by TrinsicWS at 10:47 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
If this were a thing, I would eat sooooo much many eucalyptus leaves. You can't imagine.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:55 AM on July 3, 2017
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:55 AM on July 3, 2017
I want my third thumb on a third hand on a drone I can control with my mind. A living drone.
posted by happyroach at 10:56 AM on July 3, 2017
posted by happyroach at 10:56 AM on July 3, 2017
Between RSI, other joint problems, and arthritis, I would be happy with cyberarms and legs.
posted by Samizdata at 11:44 AM on July 3, 2017
posted by Samizdata at 11:44 AM on July 3, 2017
New musical instruments would be invented!
Existing ones might become playable!
posted by randomkeystrike at 11:52 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Existing ones might become playable!
posted by randomkeystrike at 11:52 AM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
My body is ready
... for UPGRADES!
But seriously I need some replacement parts. You want to throw extras on that's fine too. I can burn the essence.
posted by curious nu at 12:06 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
... for UPGRADES!
But seriously I need some replacement parts. You want to throw extras on that's fine too. I can burn the essence.
posted by curious nu at 12:06 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Have they heard about tools?
posted by srboisvert at 12:23 PM on July 3, 2017
posted by srboisvert at 12:23 PM on July 3, 2017
You could become the stuff of lore...Three Thumb Jake as told by KITH
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 1:30 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 1:30 PM on July 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, and a set of not horribly myopic, astigmatic, and partially colorblind eyes would be nice too.
No, they don't have to look like seamless chrome.
posted by Samizdata at 1:33 PM on July 3, 2017
No, they don't have to look like seamless chrome.
posted by Samizdata at 1:33 PM on July 3, 2017
When I first moved in with my now-wife, the liquor store near her place was owned by a guy who also often ran the register. He had two thumbs on his left hand. It was a little smaller than the other one but it had a finger nail maybe even moved a little bit with the regular thumb.
I always thought it would be useful to hold onto stuff while doing small manual tasks if it was fully functional and independent.
posted by VTX at 3:08 PM on July 3, 2017
I always thought it would be useful to hold onto stuff while doing small manual tasks if it was fully functional and independent.
posted by VTX at 3:08 PM on July 3, 2017
Hitchhike.
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:21 PM on July 3, 2017
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:21 PM on July 3, 2017
The quote on the FPP is full of promise, but I was disappointed by the lack of ... rigor... in the presentation on the website. This could be an interesting discussion if it was treated as more than conceptual art/design. As notyou comments, prosthetic enhancement has already been a point of controversy in sports. But its a whole new level if the prosthetic was a new body part like a third thumb, rather than the prosthetic 'replacement' as in the quote. Heck, some people wondered if LASIK surgery was too much of an enhancement for pro ball players. What are the possibilities of some Geordi LaForge replacement eye?
posted by TDIpod at 3:44 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by TDIpod at 3:44 PM on July 3, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hitchhike.
Especially if you can get it to summon space ships!
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:31 PM on July 3, 2017
Especially if you can get it to summon space ships!
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:31 PM on July 3, 2017
Flashback to that Superman comic I read when I was wee, in which Perry White stumbles upon a bunch of four-thumbed mutants with mutant thumb powers! Spoiler: they turn out to be good kids in the end and go off to form a thumb communte or something. "Attack by the Army of Tomorrow!"
posted by moonmilk at 6:08 PM on July 3, 2017
posted by moonmilk at 6:08 PM on July 3, 2017
I've tried out a third thumb for real!
I'm surprised the OP and the linked page doesn't include a link to the project's (fake) Kickstarter page. Watch the video on there - it's really nicely made.
posted by grahamparks at 4:20 PM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm surprised the OP and the linked page doesn't include a link to the project's (fake) Kickstarter page. Watch the video on there - it's really nicely made.
posted by grahamparks at 4:20 PM on July 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
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A prehensile tail might be interesting, though.
posted by notyou at 7:29 AM on July 3, 2017 [6 favorites]