UK researchers have developed a robot fingertip that creates signals similar to the brain activity associated with human touch. Science fiction author, Gareth L. Powell, explores the possible implications of this technology. As you can imagine, The Engineer's recent report on the development of a robot hand with a tactile fingertip caught set off all kinds of science fictional trains of thought. For instance, the first thing that sprang to mind was a scene from the movie Star Trek: First Contact, in which the Borg queen tries to tempt Commander Data by grafting human skin onto his android body, allowing him to 'feel' for the first time.
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