How to build a bionic man.

This documentary is about the future of bionics seen through the eyes of Dr Bertolt Meyer who has been fitted with a cutting edge bionic arm and hand. The programme refers back to Mary Shelley's novel, 'Frankenstein' to illustrate medical progress and sets out to see whether it is possible to create a complete artificial human from available technology . Visiting experts around the World, Bertolt discovers whether it is possible to create a complete clone of his own body using the latest prosthetic technology. Bertolt was born without a left hand. He goes to a clinic in Switzerland. He then visits the roboticists in London who are creating the robot; in total the technology would cost USD$1 million. Bertolt goes to a US Army laboratory in Baltimore where the US military has been carrying out research into prosthetics. The new arm uses 16 electrical pulse points rather than the usual 2; within minutes the hand has 'learnt' Bertolt's movements. Next, back in London, Rich Walker, roboticist, continues with constructing the bionic man. Bertolt visits MIT in Boston and meets Hugh Heir who is researching leg prosthetics; Hugh has two prosthetic limbs. A keen climber, he lost his limbs to frostbite when he had an accident when he was 17. Dr James J Hughes from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies comments on the 1970s television series 'The Bionic Man'. This is followed by a brief sequence of Oscar Pistorius, the Olympic and Paralympic 'blade runner', in training. Professor George Annas, Bioethics and Human Rights from Boston University ponders whether the result of pushing the boundaries would result in the creation of a new species. A woman, Caroline, is having an eye implant a retinal eye implant. Bertolt's robot clone is fitted with a retinal implant too. 5 weeks after her operation, Caroline has the microchip turned on and she can discern light and shapes. Prototypes of artificial organs are shown in a laboratory; this includes lungs, spleen, kidney and a heart. Patients are seen who are receiving artificial hearts. Similar biological technology is applied to the robot. They apply voice technology, but the brain is more challenging to reproduce. A rat in a laboratory has an electrode implanted so that its 'thoughts' can be read. The roboticists create a face for the robot; Bertolt is then very angry about the robota as the roboticists look on. He then goes to Harrods and the robot gets new clothes.