Bionic Eyes are now reality

I wonder what's the resolution of the camera transmitted into your brain as images, hmmm.
 
To answer some people's questions here,

Yes there is DeafBlind culture. It is very different from Deaf Culture.

Keep in mind that I am still Culturally Deaf and still participate in Deaf events but by force of omission by some purist Deaf Culture people, I am forced to go to DeafBlind events.

I find out that there are other Culturally Deaf people in the DeafBlind events that have been ostracised just like me.

DeafBlindness is just like Deafness.

DeafBlind culture is just like Deaf Culture.

DeafBlindhood is like Deafhood.

Usherhood is like DeafBlindhood.

The only difference between those parallels is the emotional attachment, social stigmas, how one person approaches another.

All in all, we relate to each other the same.

We're human just like you.
 
I think this development is awesome! :D While I may not elect to take advantage of it (blindness is all I've ever known, so I have no desire to see), I still think it's wonderful for those who are adventitiously blind or deafblind.
 
Mrs Bucket said:
To answer some people's questions here,

Yes there is DeafBlind culture. It is very different from Deaf Culture.

Keep in mind that I am still Culturally Deaf and still participate in Deaf events but by force of omission by some purist Deaf Culture people, I am forced to go to DeafBlind events.

I find out that there are other Culturally Deaf people in the DeafBlind events that have been ostracised just like me.

DeafBlindness is just like Deafness.

DeafBlind culture is just like Deaf Culture.

DeafBlindhood is like Deafhood.

Usherhood is like DeafBlindhood.

The only difference between those parallels is the emotional attachment, social stigmas, how one person approaches another.

All in all, we relate to each other the same.

We're human just like you.
Click to expand...


Yes we all are. And it is also human to want better.

Like me. I would give up every bit of my hearing, to be able to see better.

because I have accepted my deafness,

I have not accepted the fact that I may be totally blind later in life.

so I am only human to think the way I do as well.



No offense...

It goes for me too, to what I am about to type..

Opinions are like Assholes... everyone has one.

so this is just a direct way of me saying how I feel...
 
sequoias said:
I wonder what's the resolution of the camera transmitted into your brain as images, hmmm.
Click to expand...

The Columbus Dispatch article provides a nice summary of how the Argus II works:

The Argus II system has 60 electrodes, which provide more detail, and works like this:

A tiny video camera mounted in a pair of glasses takes pictures of what’s in front of a patient and transmits each image to a processor worn on the hip.

The processor turns the image into a pattern of electronic impulses that are sent to an antenna on the side of the glasses. The impulses are directed to a receiver implanted on the side of the eye. The receiver relays these impulses to the electrodes in the retina.

The impulses travel along the retinal neurons through the optic nerve and to the brain. The patient sees flashes of light, which the brain uses to make the equivalent of low-resolution images.

An illustration of the above process is also provided.

The Argus II has 16 electrodes, while Argus III is expected to have 200, and Argus IV, more than 1,000. The hope is that additional electrodes will allow patients to recognize faces and read text of a fairly reasonable size.

Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System Provides Blind With Vision : Eye Doc News
 
There has been a great deal of debate in the blind community regarding bionic eyes.

Part of the community (those born totally blind) view it as a way of "fixing" something that does not need to be fixed while those in the other half of the community (adventitiously blind) view it as a way of expanding opportunities.

In many respects, it mirrors the CI vs. ASL debate.
 
Hear Again said:
There has been a great deal of debate in the blind community regarding bionic eyes. Part of the community (those born totally blind) view it as a way of "fixing" something that does not need to be fixed while those in the other half of the community (adventitiously blind) view it as a way of expanding opportunities.

In many respects, it mirrors the CI vs. ASL debate.
Click to expand...

But I think it was specifically developed for retinitis pigmentosa and those are people who start out sighted and gradually lose vision.

It may not be appropriate for those who have never had vision.
 
Why do people always think those who take advantage of CIs or bionic eyes do not accept their deafness or blindness? I don't understand that mentality.
 
Bott,

It could be. A totally blind person can learn to associate the color schemes with objects even if they don't have a strong visual concept of what that means.
 
Hear Again said:
There has been a great deal of debate in the blind community regarding bionic eyes.

Part of the community (those born totally blind) view it as a way of "fixing" something that does not need to be fixed while those in the other half of the community (adventitiously blind) view it as a way of expanding opportunities.

In many respects, it mirrors the CI vs. ASL debate
Click to expand...


I do agree on that aspect. In bold prints.

I also agree it is not a cure.. I just find it fascinating and something that I may look into in the future.


Now I get a sense of how the latent deafs feel.
 
Hear Again said:
Why do people always think those who take advantage of CIs or bionic eyes do not accept their deafness or blindness? I don't understand that mentality.
Click to expand...

I don't know. If the eye becomes more advanced and my left eye should go the way of my right, I would absolutely see if I could qualify.
 
Hear Again said:
Bott,

It could be. A totally blind person can learn to associate the color schemes with objects even if they don't have a strong visual concept of what that means.
Click to expand...

You mean you think it could be useful for people born blind?
 
Bottesini said:
You mean you think it could be useful for people born blind?
Click to expand...

Yep. A blind person does not need to understand what the color white or black mean. All they need to learn is how to associate what they feel with the image that is seen through the bionic eye. It's no different than the way a Deaf person learns how to hear with a CI. They may not know what sounds are or what they mean, but they can learn to associate meaning to the things they hear through daily exposure and explanations.
 
Hear Again said:
Yep. A blind person does not need to understand what the color white or black mean. All they need to learn is how to associate what they feel with the image that is seen through the bionic eye. It's no different than the way a Deaf person learns how to hear with a CI. They may not know what sounds are or what they mean, but they can learn to associate meaning to the things they hear through daily exposure and explanations.
Click to expand...

That is interesting. I really had no idea of that.
 
Bottesini said:
The Columbus Dispatch article provides a nice summary of how the Argus II works:

The Argus II system has 60 electrodes, which provide more detail, and works like this:

A tiny video camera mounted in a pair of glasses takes pictures of what’s in front of a patient and transmits each image to a processor worn on the hip.

The processor turns the image into a pattern of electronic impulses that are sent to an antenna on the side of the glasses. The impulses are directed to a receiver implanted on the side of the eye. The receiver relays these impulses to the electrodes in the retina.

The impulses travel along the retinal neurons through the optic nerve and to the brain. The patient sees flashes of light, which the brain uses to make the equivalent of low-resolution images.

An illustration of the above process is also provided.

The Argus II has 16 electrodes, while Argus III is expected to have 200, and Argus IV, more than 1,000. The hope is that additional electrodes will allow patients to recognize faces and read text of a fairly reasonable size.

Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System Provides Blind With Vision : Eye Doc News
Click to expand...

Wow, that's not very many, sounds super low resolution for sure but I'm sure it will improve in time.
 
Bottesini said:
That is interesting. I really had no idea of that.
Click to expand...

The possibilities are endless. I definitely believe a congenitally totally blind person could learn how to use this device successfully. I do have to admit that if I could see Tigger, the faces of my loved ones or the sunset, I'd be tempted to try it for a day.
 
Babyblue said:
I do agree on that aspect. In bold prints.

I also agree it is not a cure.. I just find it fascinating and something that I may look into in the future.


Now I get a sense of how the latent deafs feel.
Click to expand...

:hug: Thank you so much, now I can weep with joy that someone else finally understands both mine and Hear Again's frustrations.

It is very frustrating on some days when we feel overwhelmed with a lot of things on our shoulders. I feel a strong bond with Hear Again and I have yet to meet her physically. I already want to meet Hear Again and just give her a throaty hug.

I would not want this operation because I just don't desire being "fixed" and my trials & tribulations have shaped me for who I am. I have gained a lot of compassion on this personal journey and if it wasn't for this personal journey, I wouldn't have had a lot of personal growth as well.

Thank you again BabyBlue for those words... they help.. a lot. :ily:
 
Back
Top