Tongue device helps blind soldier

[stiz]

This is intresting

"A soldier blinded by a grenade in Iraq (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fc/iraq.html) has described how his life has been transformed by ground-breaking technology (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/technology.html) that enables him to "see" with his tongue"

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20100315/tsc-tongue-device-helps-blind-soldier-4b158bc.html

[Snuffy]

Pretty cool ...

(wonder how long it'll take for this thread to degrade .... )

[tigisfat]

I'm glad for the UK that the technology is being used on people who really deserve it. I also can't help buut wonder what it's like using that machine.

[djscoo]

I remember seeing a program on television about it when it was being developed.

[OBIO]

Very interesting in deed.

Recently, while waiting for one of Deb's doctor's apointments, I was reading a magazine (National Geo, Popular Science, something along those lines) and there was an article about the use of technology to "replace" lost mobility and senses. One of the items discussed as a system for those who are blind. Glasses with built in video cameras send signals to a small computer pack that converts the images into electrical impulses that the brain can understand. The signals are then sent to a couple of micro chips implanted in the brain and the signals are picked up and deciphered by the brain's visual cortex. This allowed a blind lady to see light and dark, out lines of trees and buildings. Newer micro chips were about to under go testing...these would allow for color vision and more visual depth and sharpness.

OBIO

[Toastmaker]

In furtherance of Obio's post, I can't wait for some of the comming breakthroughs in nanotechnology and how it's going to revolutionize medicine. This will be particularly true for sensory rehabilitations, organ or partial organ repair and huge improvements in prosthesis design and function - not to mention surgical and reconsructive improvements !

And no, Snuffy - I don't see this thread going bad. I don't think anybody here would insult the victim that way.