'Bionic eye' Breakthrough can allow the Blind to See

independent.co.uk ^ | 09 May 2003 | Steve Connor

[wallcrawlr]

I am the parent of a daughter with a Bionic Ear...I know how important and dynamic technology is changing peoples lives.

http://www.bionicear.com/

[GiveEmDubya]

I am blind in my right eye...technology like this would be quite helpful, thank you very much.

[ztiworoh]

Can anyone say... Star Trek visor guy...

[templar]

Science fiction is no longer fiction. What a blessing this will be when it is fully developed. And the possibilities for extended vision, into the invisible and even the radio frequencies, are actually possible now.

[tortoise]

They've been experimenting with much higher resolution versions of this same device. The primary limiting factor is building the artificial retinas in a small enough form-factor that it is practical. As miniaturization improves and the ability to tie electronics directly into the brain improve, these will become more and more capable. On of the interesting things is that most of these artificial retinas are sensitive further into the infrared than a natural human eye.

[Bob J]

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[hole_n_one]

Can't come soon enough.....

[yooper]

Visor my ass. That's an air filter from a Ford Pinto.

[Walkingfeather]

actually the frame is a common hair barret thing.... with a air filter from a ford pinto.... : )

[LibKill]

This will be great when they get it developed.

I have worked with some blind folks. They were cheerful and happy for the most part, but the limitations on their lives were damnably unfair.

[Stopislamnow]

This is high speed, low drag stuff.

Big bump for Western Civilization.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Let's take up a collection and buy one for Hans Blix.

[Tauzero]

ROTFL!

[Nebr FAL owner]

Back in the 60's an aviation writer named Martin Caidin wrote a short sci fi story titled cyborg aka as the six million dollar man, it seems medical science is catching up with sci fi from 30 years back .

[merry10]

I am also a parent of a child with a cochlear implant. She now hears at 25db wearing her implant and is learning to speak. When not wearing her implant - swimming, bathing, or sleeping, she hears virtually nothing. Her implant, a Nucleus Cochlear 24 channel, is the most amazing tool and her progress has been remarkable. My hope is that one day there will be actual cures for people who can not hear or see.

[wallcrawlr]

My experience is with a Clarion CII w/HiRes. My 2 and a couple month old daughter just recently tested at 10dbs.

Its good to meet you and hear about your success.
I wish you well.

Take care.

[JudgemAll]

There was this guy driving a mustang thanks to his bionic eye in Wired magazine. This article is about a lesser technology

[merry10]

We have a new MAP scheduled in a couple weeks, so she will probably go up at that point. THanks, I wish you well too.

[Sonny M]

I hate to say this, but I predict a left wing backlash on a small scale against this. They've been attacking people for using the ear pieces (the implants), for "destroying the culture of the deaf", and have encouraged parents not to let there kids go for the surgery. Alot of liberals (also known as sicko's) are more concerned about maintaining a "sufficient" number of deaf people, for future generations to "preserve there culture".

[merry10]

WHere do you get your information that these are left wing or liberals? I have to tell you, it doesnt matter what the ideology. When a parent implants a child, they need to make the decision themself for the child and for themselves. It is up to the parent to become knowledgable about the implants. Once in a while the implant does not work the way the family wants it to. There are plenty of Democrats getting the implant too...I was at UCLA a couple months ago and there were several left wing looking people with implants and one woman in particular had a button that said "Proud American against the War". Your logic makes no sense.