The Art of Touch | Dishita Bajaj | TEDxVandegrift HS

Problem Statement & Impact - Neurological conditions create emotional weight on families and patients, isolating individuals and limiting their interaction with the world [6] - In the US, over 1 million people are living with Parkinson's disease, with 90,000 new diagnoses annually [8][9] - Medications for Parkinson's can cost up to $2,500 per person, and therapeutic surgeries can exceed $100,000 [9] Proposed Solutions & Technologies - Brain Machine Interfaces (BMIs) can recreate the sense of touch and allow users to control devices with their thoughts [13][14] - Haptic feedback, the science of recreating the sense of touch, can be implemented in BMIs and prosthetics to enhance the user experience [17][18] - Engineering and science can be combined with humanities to create effective and deeply human treatments for neurological conditions [10][21] Call to Action & Vision - The industry should focus on thriving, not just surviving, by creating connections for people with neurological diseases [20] - There is a need to blend STEM fields with humanities to develop treatments that are not only effective but also deeply human [19][21] - The industry should shift focus from complex technologies like AI and robots to simpler solutions that enhance the simple joys of life [22][23]