Bespoken thrives on the latest innovations and improvements that help people with disabilities live their lives to the fullest. The latest powered ankle or wrist joint; new, super-lightweight materials that still retain their strength and versatility; even technology that allows paralysed users to control limbs and objects with their own brain waves!

In the world of prosthetics, however, one Scottish company is going back, and using old technology to enhance and improve upon the design and functionality of its (admittedly state-of-the-art) prosthetic hands.

We all know what apps are. First introduced in the App store with the sale of the first generation of the iPhone in 2007, the word 'app' has become synonymous with the diminutive yet handy programs that all smartphones now run.  As the old Apple slogan goes, 'there's an app for that'.

Touch Bionics, a Scotland-based company specialising in prosthetic hands and upper limbs, has taken the phrase literally. Users of its i-limb ultra prosthetic hand or arm can now use a specialised app, 'my i-limb', that allows them to quickly and easily move their prosthetic into a new multitude of positions through a combination of muscle control and interaction with the app itself. The i-limb ultra even has a special coating on its fingertips that make it touchscreen compatible!

From quickly picking things up or handling door handles right the way to fine motor control such as tying shoelaces or holding a pen or pencil, the i-limb app cuts down on the time spent setting the prosthetic up for the task. The app itself comes with 24 pre-set positions for the i-limb ultra, and has capacity for 12 fully custom gestures, taking the total up to 36.

As well as making a specialised app, Touch Bionics has hit upon the superb idea of making the i-limb ultra Bluetooth-responsive. Users can place special Bluetooth 'chips' in locations that they associate with one particular prosthetic position, which they can specify in the i-limb app. When the i-limb ultra gets in range of this 'chip', the limb automatically arranges itself into the position that the user of the i-limb ultra has specified. In practice this can mean that a Bluetooth chip attached to a pair of shoes makes the tying of shoelaces as simple as bending down until you're within range of the chip, and then simply setting about tying. The video below will show more uses.

As well as function, Touch Bionics has invested in form as well. Having bought the US-based company livingskin, the i-limb ultra can be made to look sleek and artificial, in black for users who like to show off the incredible technology that they are wearing (or simply use it as a great conversational piece). Conversely, the silicone technology behind the coverings comes in three layers, to resemble human skin as closely as possible. Touch Bionics crafts a bespoke solution for each of its i-limb ultra users who wish their prosthetics to match their skin tone; the result is incredibly realistic-looking skin that has to be seen to be believed.

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