handiii / HACKberry
Genta Kondo + Hiroshi Yamaura + Tetsuya Konishi [exiii]
handiii is a myoelectric prosthetic hand designed to offer flexibility and choice. Myoelectric bionic arms are prosthetics that people who have lost limbs can control intuitively through faint electrical signals (myoelectric) in the muscles, which are measured on the skin remaining on the arm. The technology has been around since prewar days but its extremely high cost has limited its penetration of the market. handiii uses a 3D printer and smartphone in order to keep the cost of the materials under 30,000 yen. Whereas previous bionic limbs would attempt to conceal the loss of the hand by imitating human skin in the design, handiii offers a choice of look to match the environment in which it is being used or the feelings of the user, just like a watch or sneakers. By adding extendibility through IC chips and microphones in the fingertips, handiii is a bionic arm that aspires to be the envy of a large number of people. It is currently being developed for commercialization in partnership with users.
Artist Profile
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Genta Kondo
近藤 玄大
Born in 1986 in Osaka Prefecture and grew up in Kanagawa Prefecture. He is the CEO of exiii Inc. He completed post-graduate research in engineering at the University of Tokyo, before working for Sony in robotics research and new enterprises. In October 2014 he started his own business aiming to commercialize myoelectric prosthetic hands, which was his research subject at college. -
Hiroshi Yamaura
山浦 博志
Born in 1984 in Chiba Prefecture. He is Chief Technology Officer at exiii Inc. After completing post-graduate research in engineering at the University of Tokyo he worked at Panasonic, designing digital cameras. He joined exiii in October 2014. -
Tetsuya Konishi
小西 哲哉
Japan
Born in 1984 in Chiba Prefecture. He is CCO at exiii Inc. After completing post-graduate studies in engineering design at the Chiba Institute of Technology he worked at Panasonic as an industrial designer for optical instruments and advanced technology. He joined exiii in October 2014.