You know... I think there was a slashdot article recently on a similar type
of procedeure. The patient, whom had been blinded in some sort of accident,
could see what the computer interpreted, but if it wasn't used exactly
right, the guy goes into siezures, then shock. Sure wouldn't want to be one
of the first to get one of these.
----- Original Message -----
From: "coelacanth1938" <chacoanasazi_at_aol.com>
To: <SkunkworksAMA_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 2:22 PM
Subject: [SkunkworksAMA] New Eyes For Old...
>
>
> There's hope...
>
> Bionic eye 'ready for human trials'
>
> Australian inventors are looking for a small group of volunteers to
> start human trials of a 'bionic eye'.
>
> The device consists of a silicon chip inserted into the eyeball and a
> pair of 'camera glasses' worn by users.
>
> Images from the glasses are broken down into pixels and passed to the
> tiny chip, which acts like a retina.
>
> The chip simulates the images and transmits a message to the retinal
> cells along a series of small wires.
>
> ABC reports tests on animals have been successful and designer Gregg
> Suaning now wants to begin trials on a group of about five human
> volunteers.
>
> It says volunteers must be profoundly blind as people with partial
> sight will be excluded because of the potential risk of visual damage.
>
> The research team has already held talks with Royal Blind Society and
> Retina Australia about finding suitable volunteers.
>
> Suaning, of Australia's University of Newcastle, has been working on
> the project for five years. He said: "The principle of a bionic eye
> is very similar to that of the bionic ear. It is a silicon chip which
> decodes the radio signals and delivers simulations.
>
> "The chip sends message to the retinal cells through small wires. We
> broadcast basically into the body. It's like a radio station that
> only has a range of 25 millimetres."
>
> A separate processing unit makes 'sense' of the camera images by
> looking for certain features, such as doorways of light. Current
> technology means the unit is only able to send 10x10 pixel images,
> but Suaning hopes this will improve with time.
>
>
> Story filed: 10:35 Tuesday 20th August 2002
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
Received on Wed Aug 21 2002 - 17:35:07 CDT