Blog 1

          I researched the TRS Black Iron Master and their Black Iron Trainer.  These prosthesis are used mainly for lifting weights.  I never thought about how a weight-lifter's career would be finished, if they lost part of an arm.  The Black Iron Master is intended for the serious weight-lifters who need a prosthetic.  It is designed for the professional level.  It features a swinging clamp with two pads so that it can securely grip the weight.  The prosthetic then locks onto it manually, via a wing nut.  There is no way for the prosthetic to open besides the manual release of the wing nut.  This prosthetic would be perfect for any serious weight-lifter eager to return to his/her sport.

          The Black Iron Trainer is designed for those looking to increase their own personal fitness, but are not quite on the professional level.  It is similar to the Black Iron Master, but it is lighter and can only handle lighter loads.  The mechanism is similar to that of the the professional version, but smaller and designed for every-day weight-lifters.  Overall I think that this prosthetic will give those, who are very dedicated to lifting, a new chance to perform their sport, or just generally stay in shape.  However, it does seem challenging to operate this prosthetic.  For example, the lifter must manually open and close the clamp and it does not seem that there is any mechanism for turning the "wrist."  This would make the physical process of lifting the weights more difficult.  Overall, if the athlete is dedicated enough, he or she could make this prosthetic work for them, but it would undoubtedly be a challenge.