The Six Million Dollar Man: from fiction to reality
Langeveld, C.H.K.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 157(52): A7055
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 24382050 Document Number: 668222
The term 'bionic' has been in existence since 1958, but only gained general recognition from the television series 'The Six Million Dollar Man'. Following a crash, the central figure in this series - test pilot Steve Austin - has an eye, an arm and both legs replaced by prostheses which make him stronger and faster than a normal person. This story is based on the science fiction book 'Cyborg' by Martin Caidin. In the world of comic books and films there are a number of examples of people who are given superhuman powers by having technological gadgets built in. Although the latter is not yet possible, the bionic human has now become reality.