Why Alter Hardware? Just Get Surgery!
People typically get cosmetic surgery to either “enhance” areas they don’t feel comfortable with, or for reconstructive purposes following an accident or major surgery. 28 year-old Thomas Martel may be the first person to ever have his body surgically altered so he could better use an electronic device, in this case an iPhone. Insert your own user-friendly interface joke here.
Mr. Martel had his thumbs “downsized” in order to better use the ever-shrinking electronics of our day. The downsizing involved removing bone, fingernail, and restructing the muscles in the thumb. Despite the time involved in the planning, execution, and recover of a surgery of this kind, Mr. Martel figures that it will end up being a good use of his time.
In fact, he reckons that in 10-15 years, the time he’ll save hunting for the right key/area on the screen will have exceeded the time he has put into this project. He also figures that the frustration he'll no longer be forced to endure will be well worth it.
What does his doctor have to say? Not too much:
Mr. Martel had his thumbs “downsized” in order to better use the ever-shrinking electronics of our day. The downsizing involved removing bone, fingernail, and restructing the muscles in the thumb. Despite the time involved in the planning, execution, and recover of a surgery of this kind, Mr. Martel figures that it will end up being a good use of his time.
In fact, he reckons that in 10-15 years, the time he’ll save hunting for the right key/area on the screen will have exceeded the time he has put into this project. He also figures that the frustration he'll no longer be forced to endure will be well worth it.
What does his doctor have to say? Not too much:
"This is really, on the edge sort of stuff," explains Dr. Robert Fox Spars, who worked on developing the procedure. "We're turning plastic surgery from something that people use in service of vanity, to a real tool for improving workplace efficiency."
Oddly enough, Mr. Martel has experienced difficulty opening cans of spaghetti sauce since the surgery. Luckily, there are already machines that can do that without the need for surgery.
