OPAF PSA: NEW O&P RELATED BOOK BY PERKOWITZ
Jeffrey S. Reznick
Description
Collection
Title:
OPAF PSA: NEW O&P RELATED BOOK BY PERKOWITZ
Creator:
Jeffrey S. Reznick
Date:
7/8/2004
Text:
The Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF) offers the following
press release in cooperation with Joseph Henry Press
( <URL Redacted>) as a public service announcement (PSA) that
helps to fulfill OPAF's official representation of O&P in community and
philanthropic circles. OPAF aims primarily to enable individuals with
physical disabilities - especially those served by members of the U.S.
orthotics and prosthetics community - to enjoy the rewards of personal
achievement, physical fitness, and social interaction. In achieving this
goal, the Fund also seeks to help raise public awareness of the benefits
that individuals with physical disabilities receive from physical
activity, orthotics, and prosthetics. Complete information about OPAF is
available at <URL Redacted>.
Sidney Perkowitz's book Digital People: From Bionic Humans to Androids
will be of particular interest to members of the O&P community who, like
OPAF, are engaged in promoting greater public awareness of the past,
present, and future of O&P.
---
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Digital People
>From Bionic Humans to Androids
by Sidney Perkowitz
Joseph Henry Press, $24.95 (hardcover)
0-309-08987-5
What is said to be the first prosthetic described in writing appeared
two to three millennia BCE in the Indian Rig-Veda poem, in which Queen
Vishpla, having lost a leg in battle, replaces it with an iron one and
returns to fight. -- DIGITAL PEOPLE
The history of real -- versus imaginary -- prosthetic devices dates back
to 440 BCE when Greek historian Herodotus wrote of the Persian
Hegistratus, who was captured by the Spartans and held captive by having
his leg locked into a wooden stock. To escape, he amputated part of his
foot so that he could pull it through the hole. Later, he replaced the
missing part with a wooden substitute.
But that was just the beginning. By medieval times, wooden peg legs or
iron hooks had become the standard replacements for missing legs or
hands. And today, our prosthetic devices have become not only more
lifelike, but also more functional.
In most discussions about where technology is taking us, people don't
talk about the future of bionic humans, says Perkowitz, a professor at
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm not saying that tomorrow
you're going to see the Six-Million Dollar Man or Jake 2.0 at the
cubicle next to you, but we do need to think about the implications of
this sort of technology because this is where we're headed.
Even now you'd be surprised how many people could be defined as partly
artificial or 'bionic,' he adds. Eight to 10 percent of the U.S.
population - approximately 25 million people - have some sort of
artificial part. And as our population ages that percentage is going to
grow.
Bionic additions fall under two categories: 1) Functional prosthetic
devices and implants, such as artificial limbs, replacement knees and
hips, and vascular stents, which aid the flow of blood in blocked
arteries; and 2) Cosmetic or vanity bionic implants, like hair plugs,
false teeth, artificial eyes and breast implants.
In DIGITAL PEOPLE, Perkowitz takes readers on a three-part tour of not
only what's going on within bionics, but also what's happening in the
fields of robotics and A.I. First, he talks about the virtual history
of these fields, discussing how these technologies have figured into our
cultural history, looking at everything from movies and television to
books and plays. Then Perkowitz takes us inside laboratories around the
world to show us what's really happening. And finally, he guides us
through a discussion of the ethical implications associated with these
new technologies.
I wanted to look at what artificial and partly-artificial beings mean
in our society, he explains. We need to talk about the morality of all
this technology. We need to think about the ethical implications of
where technology is taking us, especially when it comes to bionic
humans.
In the end, Digital People is a look at what Perkowitz calls the next
level of humanity and what it all means for our vision of ourselves as
human beings.
Sidney Perkowitz is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Physics at
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and author of Empire of Light,
which explores the intersection of science, art and light; and Universal
Foam, about the science and culture of foam. He is also available for
interviews. For more information, please contact Robin Pinnel at
202-334-1902 or <Email Address Redacted>
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
press release in cooperation with Joseph Henry Press
( <URL Redacted>) as a public service announcement (PSA) that
helps to fulfill OPAF's official representation of O&P in community and
philanthropic circles. OPAF aims primarily to enable individuals with
physical disabilities - especially those served by members of the U.S.
orthotics and prosthetics community - to enjoy the rewards of personal
achievement, physical fitness, and social interaction. In achieving this
goal, the Fund also seeks to help raise public awareness of the benefits
that individuals with physical disabilities receive from physical
activity, orthotics, and prosthetics. Complete information about OPAF is
available at <URL Redacted>.
Sidney Perkowitz's book Digital People: From Bionic Humans to Androids
will be of particular interest to members of the O&P community who, like
OPAF, are engaged in promoting greater public awareness of the past,
present, and future of O&P.
---
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Digital People
>From Bionic Humans to Androids
by Sidney Perkowitz
Joseph Henry Press, $24.95 (hardcover)
0-309-08987-5
What is said to be the first prosthetic described in writing appeared
two to three millennia BCE in the Indian Rig-Veda poem, in which Queen
Vishpla, having lost a leg in battle, replaces it with an iron one and
returns to fight. -- DIGITAL PEOPLE
The history of real -- versus imaginary -- prosthetic devices dates back
to 440 BCE when Greek historian Herodotus wrote of the Persian
Hegistratus, who was captured by the Spartans and held captive by having
his leg locked into a wooden stock. To escape, he amputated part of his
foot so that he could pull it through the hole. Later, he replaced the
missing part with a wooden substitute.
But that was just the beginning. By medieval times, wooden peg legs or
iron hooks had become the standard replacements for missing legs or
hands. And today, our prosthetic devices have become not only more
lifelike, but also more functional.
In most discussions about where technology is taking us, people don't
talk about the future of bionic humans, says Perkowitz, a professor at
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm not saying that tomorrow
you're going to see the Six-Million Dollar Man or Jake 2.0 at the
cubicle next to you, but we do need to think about the implications of
this sort of technology because this is where we're headed.
Even now you'd be surprised how many people could be defined as partly
artificial or 'bionic,' he adds. Eight to 10 percent of the U.S.
population - approximately 25 million people - have some sort of
artificial part. And as our population ages that percentage is going to
grow.
Bionic additions fall under two categories: 1) Functional prosthetic
devices and implants, such as artificial limbs, replacement knees and
hips, and vascular stents, which aid the flow of blood in blocked
arteries; and 2) Cosmetic or vanity bionic implants, like hair plugs,
false teeth, artificial eyes and breast implants.
In DIGITAL PEOPLE, Perkowitz takes readers on a three-part tour of not
only what's going on within bionics, but also what's happening in the
fields of robotics and A.I. First, he talks about the virtual history
of these fields, discussing how these technologies have figured into our
cultural history, looking at everything from movies and television to
books and plays. Then Perkowitz takes us inside laboratories around the
world to show us what's really happening. And finally, he guides us
through a discussion of the ethical implications associated with these
new technologies.
I wanted to look at what artificial and partly-artificial beings mean
in our society, he explains. We need to talk about the morality of all
this technology. We need to think about the ethical implications of
where technology is taking us, especially when it comes to bionic
humans.
In the end, Digital People is a look at what Perkowitz calls the next
level of humanity and what it all means for our vision of ourselves as
human beings.
Sidney Perkowitz is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Physics at
Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and author of Empire of Light,
which explores the intersection of science, art and light; and Universal
Foam, about the science and culture of foam. He is also available for
interviews. For more information, please contact Robin Pinnel at
202-334-1902 or <Email Address Redacted>
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
Citation
Jeffrey S. Reznick, “OPAF PSA: NEW O&P RELATED BOOK BY PERKOWITZ,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/223403.
