The same is true for Steve Hynes, a trustee of a UK limb difference charity, who expressed similar concerns. “Although the design looks functional, I’m not sure it would draw more attention to my difference, which has an impact on my self-confidence,” he says. “For me, the practical benefit would have to be significant to outweigh these concerns.”
Lynch, however, had a very different opinion: “It’s nice because you can customize the design with different colors.” But he said the magnets holding the outer shell to the glove are not strong enough. “The magnets on the shell slip off under pressure or if you scrape your hand against something too hard. It can come loose, exposing the wiring underneath,” he said.
Functional design
These reservations cannot be said of Ian Davis, who became known as “the amputee who built his own Hand of the Terminator“He thinks Open Bionic’s take on a body-powered handheld device looks promising: “I got a brief look at it when I visited the facility last month. I think it’s going to require some minor revisions over time to meet some of the more demanding user requirements, but it’s exciting to see another company bring a body-powered partial handheld device to market.”
As someone who has been through the design process, with experience developing prototypes, Davis also tells me, “It’s a difficult market to serve because of all the variations in amputation levels and expectations of what functions a device will be able to have to support the user’s lifestyle.”
However, there is no doubt that Open Bionics has created a huge stir in the industry, inspiring many other creators to develop innovative and functional designs. I spoke with Nate Macabuag, founder of Koalaa soft prosthetics company that focuses on tool-based design (specific shapes for tennis, hockey, surfing, or playing instruments, etc.). His journey began as a mechanical engineering college student specializing in robotics and human-centered design. “Open Bionics prioritizes things that look smart,” says Macabuag. He appreciates the concept of the Gauntlet because it is simple and can be accessible to everyone. “I’ve always had a soft spot for simple elements,” he says, citing that his designs at Koalaa also reflect this spirit.
Celebrate the difference
Available in markets around the world, including the US and UK, the cost of an individual Hero Gauntlet is determined by Open Bionics on an “as-applied pricing” basis, which declines to disclose an initial price for the prosthetic.
The company reveals that its overall product range starts at £4,000 and confidently claims that, as some comparable prosthetic hands can cost up to $70,000, the Hero Gauntlet is a considerably more affordable alternative. In some countries, such as Australia and Germany, it is also available through health insurance.
But before anyone signs up online for a consultation, Lynch has some sage advice for those thinking about donning their own Hero’s Gauntlet. “If you approach the prosthesis as the solution to all problems and think you’ll be able to complete all your tasks with two hands, you’re going to be disappointed,” he says. “But if you look at it for what it’s used for, you’ll have a much better experience.”
Lynch is right about this. As a disabled person, I know that we are often judged by how well we can match the standard of an able-bodied person. We don’t need a hand that can replicate a realistic one, or assume that we will handle it in exactly the same way as someone with two hands. The Hero’s Gauntlet doesn’t try to be a human hand, and that’s what I like about it.