Prosthetics & the Senses

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Prosthesis, even though they are physically used to replace parts of the body that have been amputated and are no longer functioning, can also be seen as a type of art medium that allows the user to integrate technology with their physiology in a practical meaningful way. This is not to say that prosthesis are viewed by everyone as a medical art piece, but that they are an extension to the body which can then be viewed as a work of art. A question that is posed in the article, "On The Subject of Neural and Sensory Prostheses" by Lisa Cartwright and Brian Goldfarb that asks, "...how do the very ideas of object, organ, and part change when the senses and the nervous system are recognized to be the entities replaced or supplemented in a prosthetic system?"
I find this question intriguing because it suggests that the prosthesis alter not only the physical properties of a human being but also the psychological. As is stated further on in the article, prosthesis essentially give mobility to the user but it does not give the feeling of sensation. This is why technology has been implemented into prosthesis in order to simulate the sense of touch. Nerve pathways are stimulated in the musculature of the individual wearing the prosthesis through electrodes embedded in it. This advancement in technology allowed those who had prosthesis to experience senses such as touch and temperature for the first time in a long while.
The sense of touch is powerful because it connects human beings at a personal and intimate level. Being able to "feel" through the use of a prosthesis creates the opportunity for those who have nerve endings that can be accessed to actually be able to sense things such as touch once again.