Alternative prosthetics that 'speak from the soul'


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Thousands of US troops need prosthetic body parts due to our engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan; they are usually happy with what they get, but why not try harder to make the prostheses more realistic?




5 January 2015 Last updated at 00:18 GMT 
Sophie de Oliveira Barata started her career making realistic-looking artificial limbs for amputees.
But at university she had studied special effects prosthetics for TV and film, and wondered if she could use her skills to make limbs that looked more unusual and "spoke from people's soul".
Sophie set up the Alternative Limb Project and now makes bespoke, design-focused prosthetics from materials such wood, glass and metal that reflect the wearer's personality and imagination, as well as making ultra-realistic limbs. 
Among others, she has designed limbs for model and singer-songwriter Viktoria Modesta and athlete Jo-Jo Cranfield.
BBC News went to meet Sophie at her studio in north-west London.
Video journalist: Alain Gales
Still image courtesy of Omkaar Kotedia
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