Thomas Schlich : The mutilation of soldiers in WWI led to revolution in prosthetic limbs . He says engineers create limbs that would let vast crop of amputees into labor force . Positioned at the confluence of medicine , engineering and the new science of ergonomics , the test center offers a particularly striking example of the setting that made modern prosthetics possible . Comment: Schlich : Some see it as a kind of 'human evolution ; ' it set stage for advanced bionics .
Thomas Schlich : The mutilation of soldiers in WWI led to revolution in prosthetic limbs . He says engineers create limbs that would let vast crop of amputees into labor force . Comment: Schlich : Some see it as a kind of 'human evolution ; ' it set stage for advanced bionics .