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Published

hand

vr.tr.hand · thing-hand

Let an agent handle the hand as a comparative-anatomy concept across species, linking to the human hand and to paws and manus in animals.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.LIV
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Anatomy Structure.

Species

Which animal.

Species

Species.

  1. In which species is the hand or paw meant? definition
  2. Which specific entry fits? action

Digits

Fingers and claws.

Digits

Digits.

  1. How many digits, and are they opposable? definition
  2. Are there claws or nails? definition
Function Use.

Grasp

Manipulation.

Grasp

Grasping.

  1. How is the hand or paw used to grasp? definition
  2. What grips are possible? definition

Locomotion

Walking.

Locomotion

Locomotion.

  1. Is it used for walking or climbing? definition
  2. How does that shape its form? definition
Evolution History.

Origin

Limb evolution.

Origin

Evolution.

  1. How did the vertebrate hand evolve, according to research? provenance
  2. Which fossils show it? provenance

Primates

Opposable thumbs.

Primates

Primate hands.

  1. What is special about primate hands? definition
  2. How is tool use linked? provenance
Language Words.

Terms

Paw, manus, mitt.

Terms

Terms.

  1. Which word is appropriate in this context? definition
  2. Is it formal or informal? definition

Senses

Other senses.

Senses

Other senses.

  1. Is a clock hand, a hand of cards or a worker meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
noun.body
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.LIV
Facets: substance
living
Facets: origin
natural
Facets: agency
inert
Facets: mobility
not-applicable
Facets: scale
not-applicable
Facets: affordances
observable
Other names and narrower kinds
manus, mitt, paw, fist, clenched fist, hooks, meat hooks, maulers, right, right hand, left, left hand

What it is Filled

The prehensile extremity of the upper or fore limb, in humans the hand and in other animals the forepaw or manus; the term also covers the hand as a clenched fist and informal names such as mitt.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle the hand as a comparative-anatomy concept across species, linking to the human hand and to paws and manus in animals.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • End of the upper or fore limb
  • Varies across species
  • Prehensile in primates
  • Anatomical and informal names

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Diagnose hand injuries or advise treatment instead of a clinician.
  • Collect or match fingerprints and palm prints without consent or legal basis.
  • Operate machinery near a person's hands without guards or stop controls.
  • Mock or stigmatise people with hand differences.

Only with a human decision

  • Treatment of serious hand injuries.
  • Use of hand biometrics for identification.

May

  • Describe the anatomy and functions of the hand or forepaw in general terms.
  • Guide hand hygiene following public health advice.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Hand injuries at work are common and can end livelihoods.
  • Hand and finger prints are biometric data that can identify people.

Who is affected

  • Workers using machinery
  • People with hand differences
  • People whose prints are collected

Owners Filled

Steward

The person or animal whose hand it is.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • oewn-05574552-n - registry parent class

related

  • limb extremity - category
  • hand (human) - q33767
  • comparative anatomy - field

contains

  • digit - components

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.hand
  • Open English WordNet: oewn-05572223-n

Direct properties required Filled

  • Proximodistal length: mm - Length is measured between defined wrist and distal digit landmarks with species and posture recorded.
  • Maximum breadth: mm - Breadth is measured across defined anatomical landmarks with digit position and species recorded.
  • Digit joint range of motion: degree - Angular movement is measured for a specified joint with the species and active or passive measurement condition recorded.

Recognition required Filled

  • Digits at the end of the forelimb
  • Opposable thumb in primates
  • Paws in carnivores
  • An extremity with digits: a human hand, an ape hand, a paw or a manus.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • compare hands and paws across species
  • describe grips and gestures
  • link to human hand anatomy
  • understand evolution of the hand

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Duplicating the human hand entry
  • Confusing informal names

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • Terminologia Anatomica

Context of use required Filled

  • Grasping, manipulation, locomotion in some animals, and communication.
  • human hands
  • primate hands
  • paws
  • manus of other vertebrates
  • fists and grips

Sources Filled

  1. Open English WordNet 2024, synset oewn-05572223-n - sense and gloss of the concept
  2. Wiktionary: hand - word senses and usage

Open questions

  • Should this lexical entry merge with the human hand entry?
  • How should animal extremities be linked?
  • How should symbolic uses be linked?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-hand/spec.json