Notes

1. DARPA stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. DARPA's goal is to develop technological breakthroughs for the benefit of National Security. The whole purpose was really to move prosthetics to a whole new level, according to Chief Engineer of Applied Physics at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Michael McLoughlin. 

2. DARPA's support of developing prosthetic limb technology implies the recognition of the multitude of benefits that developing this type of technology could have for many amputees around the world, while simultaneously benefiting the National Defense through research and development of robotic technology. It also tells me that the possibility of creating groundbreaking technology such as robotic prosthetic limbs that allow you to have the sensation of touch and feel is clearly close, and likely on the right track in order to make this technology more readily accessible to those who need it. Not only could this benefit amputees and those without a limb, but this supporting the development of technology allows DARPA to access it, in-turn allowing for the possibility of additional use cases for these developments. 

3. This technology is astounding to me. After watching this video, I believe in my day-to-day life, I've become less appreciative of the ridiculously creative and mind blowing technological developments I've experienced in my lifetime. Being that my Father is crippled, and cannot run or jump due to having had a spinal tumor, seeing the advancements in this type of technology gives me a sense of joy, that hopefully those who experience physical traumas and or are born with a lack of complete and fine motor skills due to a condition, that one day they'll be able to use this technology to live a less tiring and easier life. The Modular Prosthetic Limb and technology behind it is striking, being able to communicate with the brain in a similar fashion to how a regular limb would is incredible. Not to say I'm not impressed with these technological feats, I am, but this just made me realize how great our brains are. Being able to use a Modular Prosthetic Limb and actually have your brain send signals that help you feel the sensation of touch is remarkable. I could see this technology benefitting thousands of people on a smaller scale, while hopefully eventually becoming available to millions around the world, in-turn changing the world. I could see this being useful for military veterans as well. The opportunities with this technology, when it's been refined and is more readily available is honestly, endless. 

4. Being that this video briefly discusses the price of this technology, which is hundreds of thousands of dollars, it doesn't seem feasible for the common consumer to have access, unfortunately. If someone were to receive this technology through a sponsored or donation-based avenue, I could see myself being incredibly scared to break this piece of groundbreaking technology, even just by using it. Towards the end of the video, the host suggests that being bionic raises a new question, can a robotic arm outperform a regular human arm? Policymakers have already begun questioning how our laws will function in accordance to how readily available this technology is to the common consumer. Looking at this technology through an ethical lense begs the question of how will we ensure humans maintain bodily autonomy. There are risks and there will certainly be changes surrounding this technology, but the benefits provided are extremely significant. 

5. I don't believe it's possible to stop the advancement of technology, simply due to how widespread current technology has become. There are billions of people around the world using technology daily, and even hourly. This is not something that can be stopped or halted easily. It would take something grandiose and ludicrous to prevent technology from advancing any further. If we could stop it, I still don't believe that means we should. Technology has certainly consumed the lives of billions around the world, but it's saved billions of lives as well. As technological advancements continue to foster throughout the world, somehow stopping this doesn't seem me to be the right way to go about it. We should not stop it, even if we were able to.