Hugh Herr
Updated: 12/30/2019 by Computer Hope
Name: Hugh Herr
Born: October 25, 1964
Computer-related contributions
- American biophysicist, engineer, and rock climber.
- Designer of specialized prostheses that enables him to climb as a double amputee on par with elite level, able-bodied people.
- Holds patent for world's first powered ankle-foot prosthesis.
- Associate professor in MIT's Program in Media Arts and Sciences and in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.
Honors and awards
- Time Magazines Top Ten Inventions in the health category (2007, 2004).
- 13th Annual Heinz Award for Technology (2007).
- Popular Mechanics recipient of the Breakthrough Leadership Award (2005).
- Featured in National Geographic movie, Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr (2002).
Quotes
"A decade or two ago we imagined a neural interface, but it was science fiction. But now these things are pretty close to being realized in the laboratory."
"Machines systematically taking over what humans do is not a healthy thing. There are certainly many areas of danger. It's important to do this, start talking about it, create a dialogue, and try to push things and, so we end up at a place that's reasonably healthy."