A startup that began on the campus of the University of Central Florida (UCF) is using not only bionic arms for children and their families but creative storytelling to build awareness about people who differently-abled. According to a recent announcement, Limbitless, a UCF-based nonprofit, is working with game company CD Projekt Red to bring the metallic arm of a game character to real life.
“Limbitless Solutions is taking the preliminary steps for the expansion of our mission to produce bionic limbs for both children and supporting adults — veterans and first responders,” Albert Manero told UCF’s Colleges and Campus News.
Manero, who is a UCF alum and Limbitless co-founder and CEO, also told UCF that the company is designing clinical trials in which adults could receive their visually expressive and functional bionic solutions.
Earlier this year, Limbitless Solutions Inc. announced a new collaboration with Adobe. Much of the creative design work is achieved using Adobe products. Limbitless also uses Adobe products to create apps that gamify the learning process and help recipients learn how to use their new limbs.
Launched in 2014, Limbitless first created a 3D-printed arm for a 6-year-old boy. In 2015 actor Robert Downey Jr. helped Limbitless deliver an Ironman-themed arm. Since then, the program has grown and is running a clinical trial using an updated version of that first arm, UCF said.
In 2016, working with faculty and students from UCF’s character animation and digital media programs, Limbitless was also able to create video games that patients use to train their muscles for a Limbitless bionic arm.
Two years later, Limbitless ventured into the gaming world. Partners have supported the design of cosmetic arm sleeves based on games such as Halo, League of Legends, and now Cyberpunk. This has allowed the group to spread the word about their work and mission and amplify expression through prosthetic limbs.
“The gaming community is super important in terms of adaptive technology and inclusion for all,” said Dominique Courbin, Limbitless co-founder and director of production. “Being able to bring the expression associated with prostheses in the video game to life has been an amazing experience and one we hope will inspire our program participants.”
As part of the collaboration for the Cyberpunk release, Microsoft is donating $85,000 to help support Limbitless’s adult clinical trial phase when it begins.
““Limbitless’ focus is not only on the technology, such as our bionic arms, but the children using the technology, their families, and their lives,” said Limbitless Solutions’ designer Mrudula Peddinti in July. “Creative storytelling and the user interface go beyond scientific data and statistics about a device. It adds emotional impact and the humanity behind the prosthetic. Our role is to both develop and provide accessible technology, and also utilize the power of visuals to amplify our bionic kids’ and families’ voices and stories to build awareness throughout the rest of the community.”
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