Implant Gives Grayscale Vision To the Blind Using Lasers 165
MrSeb writes with a bit from Extreme Tech: "After a lot of theorizing, posturing, and non-human trials, it looks like bionic eye implants are finally hitting the market — first in Europe, and hopefully soon in the U.S. These implants can restore sight to completely blind patients — though only if the blindness is caused by a faulty retina, as in macular degeneration (which millions of old people suffer from), diabetic retinopathy, or other degenerative eye diseases. ... The Bio-Retina, developed by Nano Retina, is a whole lot more exciting. The Bio-Retina costs ... around the $60,000 [and] the 576-pixel vision-restoring sensor is actually placed inside the eye, on top of the retina. The operation only takes 30 minutes and can be performed under local anesthetic. Once installed, 576 electrodes on the back of the sensor implant themselves into your optic nerve. The best bit, though, is how the the sensor is powered: The Bio-Retina system comes with a standard pair of corrective lenses that are modified so that they can fire a near-infrared laser beam through your iris to the sensor at the back of your eye. On the sensor there is a photovoltaic cell that produces up to three milliwatts — not a lot, but more than enough."
Careful. (Score:4, Informative)
I'm always happy for research done to improve mobility and functioning for disabled people. Not enough is done to help those who are vision, mobility, or hearing impaired. That said... be really careful out there. There's way too many people who are scared by anyone who looks different. Steve Mann was recently attacked [huffingtonpost.com] for having a digital eye prothetic by employees of a McDonald's. There didn't appear to be any motive for the assault other than a fear of his prothetics. His family was with him at the time.
I've heard similar reports of people being attacked who have brain implants to deliver electrical stimulation due to epilepsy, depression, etc. If it's visible, sooner or later some stupid neanderthal bastard's going to attack you for it. I personally think it should be a hate crime to attack a disabled (or 'augmented') person... but it's still more science fiction than science fact to our legislators to consider, I think.
Re:Careful. (Score:4, Informative)
In reality the AC is correct and the grandparent is incorrect in his assertion that, "There didn't appear to be any motive for the assault other than a fear of his prothetics." Grandparent is apparently unaware that essentially all information regarding Mann's incident comes from his blog. There was thorough discussion on Slashdot about possible motives and I think it was generally agreed upon that the reason for the attack was a perfect storm of a) language barrier b) Mann's disregard for the rules of McDonalds, and from what I gather, unwillingness to leave (no filming or pictures) and c) McDonald's employees who are currently trying to keep their restaurant, which is currently under protest, from going under.
All this being said, AC's comment, though correct, was inflammatory with the "state facts or STFU" spiel at the end. It looks like there are only losers here.
Re:Careful. (Score:4, Informative)
As far as I could tell from the admittedly-scant information the /. story and linked article provided about Mann's implants & digital vision augmentations, it seems they were not designed, nor had as a normal function, the ability to photograph/video-record on command. The pictures of Mann's attackers were said to have resulted from the attacker's damaging the system resulting in the images being frozen in buffers.
If McDonalds or any other business that deals directly with the public in such a manner has a problem with the possible capabilities of such prosthesis, then they need to post high-visibility signage at the entrances stating that those with electronic-based prosthesis are not welcome on the premises.
Assault & battery is not an acceptable response in any civilized society. Then again, the French have never been in danger of being accused of being overly-civil to Americans visiting France. It's one of the main reasons I as a blues musician have turned down opportunities to do tours in France, despite the love the French have for American blues music.
Strat