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The 'Third Thumb' can be used to pick up objects, open drinks bottles, sift through playing cards and even peel a banana - all with just one hand, reveal experts at the University of Cambridge.
Researchers have shown that members of the public have little trouble in learning very quickly how to use a third thumb -- a controllable, prosthetic extra thumb -- to pick up and manipulate objects. The team tested the robotic device on a diverse range of participants, which they say is essential for ensuring new technologies are inclusive and can work for everyone.
People with dementia struggle to adapt to changes in their environment because of damage to areas of the brain known as 'multiple demand networks', highly-evolved areas of the brain that support general intelligence, say scientists at the University of Cambridge.
Difficulty in responding to unexpected situations is one symptom seen across every type of dementia.