Wearable Technologies and Assistive Designs Restore Body Agency Through Art and Innovation

A range of wearable devices and assistive designs are being developed to help individuals regain control over their physical capabilities after medical incidents. These technologies focus on restoring body agency—the power to control one's own physical form—often lost due to conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, or neurological injuries. Visual artist Karolina Wiktor, who experienced aphasia following strokes in 2009, created the Font of Absences, an alphabet of unfinished letters that documents the physical effort of communication. Her work is featured in the exhibition Cartography of Motherhood at Zachęta – National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, which explores her journey of relearning communication while raising a child. The exhibition includes collaborative pieces with her daughter Iga, built through drawings and daily rituals over 15 years. Several innovative projects demonstrate this technological approach. Bradley Wagman and Viktor Bokisch developed Sole 1, a discreet sock-like device with Nitinol actuators that assists with foot drop, a condition affecting walking. Open Bionics, based in Bristol, created the Hero ARM, a lightweight, customizable prosthetic limb that uses a modular system and a companion app for calibration. Augmental's MouthPad^ is a dental resin device that translates tongue movements into cursor control for individuals with limited hand use. Italian designer Alessandra Galli designed OnCue, a keyboard with haptic feedback for people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed Syrinx, a hands-free neck brace that uses machine learning to replicate a user's voice patterns for those who have lost vocal ability. These tools emphasize leveraging remaining bodily functions rather than focusing on limitations, marking a shift toward personalized, integrative assistive technology.