More than 2.5 million people in the UK suffer from a loss of hand strength. This can be as a result of numerous medical conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Stroke, Osteo Arthritis, Motor Neurone Disease and the aging process. The healthcare costs linked to muscle weakness cost the NHS around £2.5 billion pounds per year. As the UK population continues to age, this figure is likely to continue to rise.
At The**Bold**Age we a huge fan of using technology to improve our lives and now a Scottish Start-Up, BioLiberty based in Edinburgh, believes they have the answer to a loss of grip strength. A robotic glove that uses artificial intelligence to increase muscle grip. Using artificial intelligence, It works by measuring the electrical activity caused in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle. It literally detects a user’s intention to grip. Then algorithms (yes, those pesky algorithms again) convert that intention into force so a user can then grip an object and apply pressure.
This isn’t just an aid to help open jars it can help with a range of day-to-day tasks. The creators have also developed a digital platform that can help individuals regain their natural hand strength.
The glove is still in the development stage with a working prototype having been manufactured and we can’t wait to hear more. Its makers hope that it can support independent living and healthy aging by enabling individuals to live more comfortably in their own homes for longer, and as a result reduce costs to the NHS.
The lightweight glove is the first product from this innovative tech start-up, which was founded by Ross O’Hanlon, Rowan Atkinson and Shea Quinn and is a product Edinburgh Business School’s business Incubator, based at Heriot-Watt University.
### Boldie Links:
[**Here**](https://www.bioliberty.co.uk/) you can find more information on this awe inspiring tech and the team that conceived it.