This is Scientific Americans 60 Second Science. I'm Larry Greenmeyer. Got a minute?

Parkinson's disease causes tremors or stiffness that can turn everyday tasks such as eating, brushing teeth or writing into frustrating

chores. A few years ago a company called liftware developed forks and spoons that

respond to shaking by steadying the utensil, making it easier to enjoy a meal.

Now researchers at Imperial College in the Royal College of Art in London are developing a device

called the Arc Pen that vibrates to stimulate muscles in the hand.

The vibrations could help Parkinson's patient's handwriting, in part by counteracting what's

known as micrographia, which causes writing to be small and barely legible.

Micrografia is often an early sign of Parkinson's and afflicts about 5% of patients.

The researchers who formed a company called Dopa Solution have not published their results,

but they say that 12 out of 14 Parkinson's sufferers testing their vibrating prototype

Arc Pen were able to write larger, clearer characters than they could with a normal pen.

Dopa hopes to also develop tools, brushes, and even computer mice that work like their pen.

Not a cure, of course, but certainly a way to help users have a more satisfying life.

Thanks for the minute.

For Scientific American 60 Second Science, I'm Larry Greenmeyer.