Princeton researchers create 'bionic ear' – Firstpost

Researchers at Princeton University have brought a new tool into the realm of cybernetics: a 3-D printer…. It’s actually an antenna “What we really did here was actually more of a proof of concept of the capabilities of 3-D printing,” said Michael McAlpine, the professor who led the project. “Because most people use 3-D printing to print passive objects - things like figurines and jewelry.” After it’s printed, the 3-D ear is soft and translucent. Although the new research is just one iteration in the field of cybernetics - an area that looks at combining biology with technology - McAlpine said the research could lead to synthetic replacements for actual human functions, and to a sort of electronic sixth sense. “As the world becomes a more digital and electronic place, I think ultimately we’re going to care less about our traditional five senses,” he said.