Bionic eyes to be tested on humans next year

[Gahars]

I spy with my little eye a glimpse into the very future. If this news doesn't catch your eye, I don't know what will.

Researchers in Australia plan to begin testing a bionic eye prototype on human patients in 2013. The new device is being developed by Bionic Vision Australia, and is aimed at helping patients with genetic eye conditions see large objects like buildings and cars. It includes an implanted chip that uses 98 separate electrodes to stimulate the patient's retina so that they can "perceive vision."

The set-up involves a camera built-in to a pair of glasses, which captures images and then transfers them to an external device (attached by a wire) for processing. The data is then sent to the implant, which stimulates the retina, before the information finally reaches the vision processing centers in the brain. Called the "wide-view device," the implant isn't the only prototype the team is working on — a more accurate "high-acuity device," which could help patients recognize faces and even read large print, is expected to go into testing in 2014.

Source: The Verge

The article also comes with a video about the project and the team:


Seriously, this is some pretty exciting news. One day, this technology could be able to aid those who have lost their sight (or their eyes entirely). Not only that, bionic eyes could very well begin to exceed their organic counterparts, and so begins the age of cyborgs (or augments, if that's how you roll) from there.

Plus, I'm pretty excited over the fact that we might skip this and head right to these.

 

[Another World]

its one step closer to the future we dream about.

-another world

 

[Hop2089]

I can see my new body taking shape once I hit old age, I can buy me a bionic one and live a few hundred more years.

 

[KingVamp]

its one step closer to the future we dream about.

-another world

The government complete control one or the robot rebellion?

 

[notmeanymore]

I like this chain of research, but I imagine the FBI and CIA are trying to fork off from the technology. I imagine that if we can take a camera image and make it into something our brain can process, we can take what our eye sees and turn it into an image.

 

[Jax]

Where are my brain augmentations?!

 

[Phoenix Goddess]

its one step closer to the future we dream about.

-another world

Indeed it is

 

[DinohScene]

I honestly thought of Borg cybernetic implants when I read the title.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Waiting for the shithead who's going to say this is stupid, halts progression and other bullshit.

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

This is stupid and halts progression. I am concerned about where humanity is going.

 

[Gahars]

This is stupid, halts progression. I am concerned about where humanity is going.

I always appreciate someone who can arrive right on cue.

 

[Fishaman P]

This is impressive considering it requires a direct connection to the brain.

Eye-cameras to record your entire life, anyone?

 

[Gahars]

Eye-cameras to record your entire life, anyone?

That depends: does it come with an editing program?

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Eye-cameras to record your entire life, anyone?

That depends: does it come with an editing program?

That's dirty.

I love it.

 

[Anon10W1z]

I can see my new body taking shape once I hit old age, I can buy me a bionic one and live a few hundred more years.

no, forever!!! YAY!!!

 

[Zetta_x]

This is stupid, it halts progression.


^

That was a joke, but answer this question: If we had technology to correct every little mistake in humans, do you see any potential problems from this?

 

[blahkamehameha]

^Just about to say that. Is it possible to aid humans to live hundreds of years? Probably.

However, there would be people to stop it. There are already some who complain that the world is overpopulated as it is, (which is BS)

 

[Gahars]

If we had technology to correct every little mistake in humans, do you see any potential problems from this?

We run out of things to fix.

I've heard this argument before, and it's bugged me. We've been modifying ourselves over the entirety of our history, through things like clothing, glasses, surgeries, reliance on the internet/cell phones, etc., to correct all the mistakes that we can find (There's a really interesting video from TED on the subject. Definitely worth checking out.). This new technology is the next logical step, not a radical departure.

That's not to say we shouldn't be cautious or carefully consider what we're doing; that's a given. At the same time, however, we shouldn't let ourselves become paralyzed by the future ahead either.

 

[Ryufushichou]

If we had technology to correct every little mistake in humans, do you see any potential problems from this?

Interesting argument, personally while i see humans as a species with massive potential, i don't think we should just say "Right lets augment our bodies to live for a very long time" Life is sparing, short and very valuable, by extending it, more people will take it for granted. I think that technology like this biotic eye are good, People who are born blind will be amazed if this turn out to work for them, but the ones i feel most sorry for, are those who lost their sight later in life, while a person who was born blind misses out on alot which is a very sad thing, they can't really grasp what they are missing, where someone who had sight for the first 20 years of their life knows what they are missing out on, which i could imagine could make it hurt all the more.

- Vincent

 

[Sterling]

All I had to do was open my eyes, and I could just tell that this topic was a Gahars original. Bionic eyes will be cool.