although few attempts at ‘open design‘ have endured, openprosthetics.org seems to be working. it is a forum for sharing prosthetic designs, and it is motivated in large part by amputees and their families who are seeking better, cheaper, and more functional alternatives to traditional prosthetics. take a look at the prosthetic fishing rod (above) for example, which was designed by robert haag for his son michael. it is simple, elegant and most of all, cool – which is exactly what most prosthetics are not. this site seems to have the right combination of problems, solutions, and the motivation to share in the project.
