Abstract
Arm prosthetics have evolved from a functional tool to help physical impairment to a cultural artefact that holds broader social meaning. This paper reviews existing research on prosthetics especially arm prosthetics to explore their role within the medical and social models of disability. The medical model emphasises prosthetics as tools to restore physical function, while the social model highlights societal inclusion and the reduction of barriers. This work seeks to understand better the relationship between functionality and social meaning in prosthetic design, offering practical insights. This study employs semiotics, phenomenology, and hermeneutics as approaches for analysis. Employing semiotics, we examine how prosthetics function as both physical aid tools (denotative) and cultural symbols (connotative). Using phenomenology we address the user’s experience with prosthetics, particularly how these devices integrate into their daily lives. With hermeneutics, we explore the sociological and cultural stories around prostheses and their impact on how they are seen. This study shows that research often focuses on either functional or societal aspects, with limited efforts to combine these perspectives. Through semiotics, phenomenology, and hermeneutics, we investigate how prostheses operate as physical assistance as well as symbols influenced by cultural narratives and user experiences. Furthermore, the application of semiotics, phenomenology, and hermeneutics integration in the context of arm prosthesis development appears to be limited. We feel that considering both the medical and social model viewpoints is critical for appropriate prosthesis development.
Presenters
Wildan TrusajiStudent, Ph.D., Singapore University of Technology and Design, South East, Singapore
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design
KEYWORDS
ARM PROSTHETICS, SOCIAL MODEL, MEDICAL MODEL, SEMIOTICS, PHENOMENOLOGICAL, HERMENEUTICS
