Cortical Cybernetic Implants

Floody writes "Wired is running a story with amazing cyberpunk "wow factor." Implanted visual cortex stimulation, complete with "percutaneous pedestal"; a metal jack installed directly into the skull. Where can I get a night vision enhancement module for this with HUD and distance finder?" We've posted a couple of previous stories about Dobelle and his work on bionic eyes, but this one has more details: one frame per second, $100,000. Wow.

Comments

$100,000 too much, nah....

[roalt]

We've posted a couple of previous stories about Dobelle and his work on bionic eyes, but this one has more details: one frame per second, $100,000

Do you think this $100,000 for 1 frame/second is too much? There might be quite some blind guys in the world who would like to pay this to see just one frame in their entire life...

This is one area of technology...

[Bogatyr]

I will NOT be volunteering for beta-testing of. No, no and no. I'll wait for other people to pioneer this field. I like my brain, and until they get the "regenerate and repair of brain damage" thing down pat I'll wait. For people who need this, I'm happy it's advancing, but I want to give the tech a bit to mature to the point it's a viable elective option.

Wires?

[Skyshadow]

Er, wouldn't it be easier to use wireless communications and transdermal power rather than poking holes in you're #1 infection prevention mechanism (your skin)?

Re:Borg?

[Winged Cat]

Augmented abilities like this are a form of power, and can be used for good or evil. The Borg, like most Hollywood cyborgs (with the exception of a few good guys like LaForge), tended to use it for evil, unfortunately. I suspect this stereotype won't go away until there's lots of people in the real world who use it for good.

Super vision?

[Wrexen]

Where can I get a night vision enhancement module for this with HUD and distance finder?

How about you just be thankful for having working eyes at all? It's something too many of us take for granted

You nexus huh?

[da3dAlus]

Chew: "I designed your eyes."
Roy: "Chew, if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes."

Re:Awesome

[Russ Steffen]

I'm sure that would be a last resort. First, it would attempt to deduct the appropriate royalties from your bank account.

Re:Awesome

[rseuhs]

Who needs laws when we have technology?

I bet in the EULA you have to sign to use such a device there is a clause like:

" * Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management ("Secure Content"), [insert big corp here] may provide security related updates that will be automatically downloaded into your brain. These security related updates may disable your ability to see/listen Secure Content and/or may disable portions of your brain. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update."

(I like the last sentence best. I just could not make the last sentence any better than the original. This last sentence assures me that everything is fine and nobody has to worry.)

Now just let's hope that they never implement Product Activation on this. (Use of insecure content detected, brain shutting down...)

Re:Awesome

[Winged Cat]

Do we really want new law crafted before 90% of the issues with a new device are known?

Of course we don't. But we typically don't get to significantly affect the law; we just get to live under what is imposed on us. Those who make the laws, on the other hand, often want to look like they're "doing something" about the current crisis, even if the best course of action is actually no action.

Ubergeek!

[Draoi]

While this article is unbelievably awesome, what really shocks me is just exactly Patient Alpha can do right now *without* any visual aid. This guy is just incredible - most sighted people couldn't achieve this much.

He lives in rural Canada, where the winters are brutal. He makes his living by selling firewood. Working alone, he splits logs with the largest chain saw currently available on the market. During the high season, he'll manhandle 12,000 pounds of wood in a day. He helped his wife deliver six of his eight children at home, without a physician or midwife. Jens dismisses the whole hospital birthing process as rapacious big business.

Starting from scratch and without the aid of sight, Jens designed and built a solar- and wind-powered house and pulled his family off the grid. In his spare hours, he programs computers, tunes pianos, and gives the occasional concert. For a blind man to give a classical recital requires memorizing whole scores -- a process that can take nearly five years. To cover his surgery, Jens gave quite a few recitals.

... absolutely incredible!