In my ongoing effort to chronicle the evolution of technology that will soon enhance the pitiful design of the human body (read here for brains), I have to reference a recent update on the design of a prosthetic ankle.
Using robotic tendons, researchers at Arizona State University have created an artificial ankle that may soon allow the legless to walk with the best of Ethiopian marathon winners.
But why stop there, I beg. You may have already heard about this Russian superstar’s new gas powered shoe. (Older models of the shoe used coal-fired steam power). This shoe has been clocked at an amazing 22-mph. If we merged this hyper shoe into an artificial limb can you imagine the possibilities? Someday people could walk on the highway, keeping apace with cars, jump like Spiderman, and kick with the power of Shaolin Soccer star Stephen Chau. Pre-teens would be amputating their own legs for a chance to make first choice on the kickball team. I know I would.
the Blanket Statement 
