BrainPort Allows Blind Man to See With His Tongue

[the_krasno]

Can he read or recognize flat surfaces? Could he work with a computer, play a videogame or use a touchscreen phone?

This changed his life, but he will miss out on the newer technologies if he only can see threedimensional imagery.

Of course, 3D displays could fix that...

 

[flamethrower205]

Hehe, so cool to finally see the beginnings of a real product that does the tongue trick. It's pretty amazing how plastic our brains really are w.r.t. analyzing new data through alternate senses. I don't think it is just limited to 3d, what it's doing is giving b/w shape outlines akin to what you'd get out of your V1/V2 visual cortex. It'd be interesting to see how far we could actually push the detail of image processing that happens through using the tongue. I hope that in not too long we might even be able to forgo using the tongue and hooking straight into the optical nerve!

 

[sabot00]

I'm not really impressed, they hooked up a ball to push out parts of itself to replicate vision in a 64x64 grid, he can't do even basic things like drive.

 

[Guest]

The current technology is good enough to see most of an image. Thats pretty damn impressive! The only downside I can think of now is not knowing how the person you're having sex with looks like. I guess it could be both a good or a bad thing!

 

[rambo117]

[citation][nom]dameon51[/nom]As bad as it is, I couldn't help but chuckle a this.[/citation]
same xD

 

[Blessedman]

I am curious why they can't tap into the optic nerve and send pulses down it. I guess we just can't recreate the signals the actual eye produce to send an image to the brain. Pretty amazing we haven't figure that out yet though...

 

[sliem]

This is cool but he'll drool alot.

 

[Kami3k]

[citation][nom]Blessedman[/nom]I am curious why they can't tap into the optic nerve and send pulses down it. I guess we just can't recreate the signals the actual eye produce to send an image to the brain. Pretty amazing we haven't figure that out yet though...[/citation]

Damage to that nerve could be why he's blind to begin with. Or possibly because it's a cranial nerve, it connects directly to the brain. Not wise to start messing with that nerve.

And of course we haven't figured out how to do that as well. What you want figured out is how to link machine and humans. It isn't just simply electrical impluses. But once that is figured out the possiblities are endless.

Amputess with mechanical legs and arms, direct interfacing with machines, cyborgs, the list is endless really.

Go go technology.

 

[ViPr]

i'm not happy because this means the regeneration project failed.

 

[korsen]

Um, don't you know they already basically attached a digital camera to a guy's brain to allow him to see crudely as if the camera were a cybernetic implant? http/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/606938.stm

Come on, not invasive, but this is old hat. 10 years old hat. Cruder method too.

 

[longshotthe1st]

[citation][nom]korsen[/nom]Um, don't you know they already basically attached a digital camera to a guy's brain to allow him to see crudely as if the camera were a cybernetic implant? http/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/606938.stmCome on, not invasive, but this is old hat. 10 years old hat. Cruder method too.[/citation]

Ok and what has happened with it since then?

 

[longshotthe1st]

I figured they would have tested it on Levar Burton before anyone else since he's used to it already. =P

 

[Hellboy]

ive got a customer with a voice box stuck in his backside..

he seems to talk out of it alot...

 

[The_Trutherizer]

This device is absolutely great, because it is cheap. Sure work in direct stimulation of the visual cortex/optical nerve is progressing as we speak, but they still require surgery. This device can even help people who temporarily lose their eyesight to function better. A+ work.

 

[Ramar]

[citation][nom]Blessedman[/nom]I am curious why they can't tap into the optic nerve and send pulses down it. I guess we just can't recreate the signals the actual eye produce to send an image to the brain. Pretty amazing we haven't figure that out yet though...[/citation]

We still don't know what causes a headache. Seriously.