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The prosthesis is being developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, three universities and California-based company Second Sight. The first version of it is expected to reach the market in about five years. That's how long it will take to pass muster with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which ensures that medical devices are safe to use.
Also waiting for FDA approval is a product from private company Optobionics, based in Chicago. In two to three years, it aims to put on the market a sole silicon chip that would be implanted underneath the retina.
Two millimeters in diameter and thinner than a human hair, the Optobionics implant is covered with microscopic solar cells. They gather energy from incoming light, without the need for wiring or external power sources, said Jacek Kotowski, medical director at Optobionics. No artificial image-processing is needed because the chip is meant to stimulate photoreceptors that might still be alive in the retina, keeping them awake.
"We are hoping that the implant stops the progression of the disease, slowing down the cell loss," Kotowski said. Thirty patients have received implants, with the results varying according to the person's initial state. Some have regained sense of color, and gotten better contrast perception and generally improved vision. Patients implanted five years ago still see better than before the surgery, he said.
The Optobionics implant drew criticism from both Theogarajan and Chader, who argued that the stimulating effect on photoreceptors will fade and that no signals will be sent to the brain without substantial power enhancement.
Kotowski said that optimizing power is a priority for his research team. "Our chip is probably delivering enough when you are in a bright environment. In most conditions, like indoors, it is probably producing very low currents."
Even with the criticisms, the hope runs strong that someone will deliver a useful product soon, even if it's someone else.
"We're rooting for the others around the world, too," said Doheny's Chader.
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As Microsoft and other large technology companies can certainly attest to this fact, the easier you try to make life easier for the general population, there will always be those who want to take advantage of that technology to make life miserable for the general population.
This article states that eyesight can be restored to sufferers of retinal disease using technology with wireless transmissions. Well, that's all well and good, however, what security precautions will be taken for this technology? Will the user of this technology have to worry that at some point in time some miscreant will try to take advantage of their diability and somehow, 'intercept' the wireless technology and who knows what? Broadcast images that aren't really there? Cause the user to do things based on what the miscreant 'showed' them?
I know this is REALLY far fetched at this period in time, but as technology evolves at a faster and faster rate, so too, does it seem that organizations of unscrupulous hackers evolves too. It would be a damn shame if the user of this fascinating technology would also have to be concerned of having the latest software patches upgraded lest they become victim to ... oh I don't know, let's coin a new phrase ... Retinal Software Viruses? (Do you have the latest RSV patch for your eyesight?)
and what access would that give to someone's brain. could someone jack your brain and convince you that you were walking off a cliff? maybe hold you hostage until you pay up?
scary.
As Microsoft and other large technology companies can certainly attest to this fact, the easier you try to make life easier for the general population, there will always be those who want to take advantage of that technology to make life miserable for the general population.
This article states that eyesight can be restored to sufferers of retinal disease using technology with wireless transmissions. Well, that's all well and good, however, what security precautions will be taken for this technology? Will the user of this technology have to worry that at some point in time some miscreant will try to take advantage of their diability and somehow, 'intercept' the wireless technology and who knows what? Broadcast images that aren't really there? Cause the user to do things based on what the miscreant 'showed' them?
I know this is REALLY far fetched at this period in time, but as technology evolves at a faster and faster rate, so too, does it seem that organizations of unscrupulous hackers evolves too. It would be a damn shame if the user of this fascinating technology would also have to be concerned of having the latest software patches upgraded lest they become victim to ... oh I don't know, let's coin a new phrase ... Retinal Software Viruses? (Do you have the latest RSV patch for your eyesight?)
and what access would that give to someone's brain. could someone jack your brain and convince you that you were walking off a cliff? maybe hold you hostage until you pay up?
scary.