Chip Allows Blind People To See

crabel writes "3 blind people have been implanted with a retinal chip that allowed them to see shapes and objects within days of the procedure. From the article: 'One of the patients surprised researchers by identifying and locating objects on a table; he was also able to walk around a room unaided, approach specific people, tell the time from a clock face, and describe seven different shades of gray in front of him.'"

Comments

Yeah, yeah

[smchris]

It seems like one researcher or another has been twiddling with technologies like this now and then as one-off's for literally DECADES now. Will it ever make it into an on-going clinic?

I got an "insightful" for my jaded disillusionment the last time /. reported on one of these experiments, what, maybe five years ago. Can I get another "insightful" for still being disillusioned that these "cool hacks" will ever see production?
 

Re:This is actually pretty cool

[am 2k]

I think they should start implanting these now. Why make people wait for more trials? What's the worst that can happen? The person is already blind.

Well, I'm a complete noob when it comes to medical stuff, but I can think of three things:

• Permanent damage to the nerves, removing the option for using any future improved version of this implant.
• Brain damage, since this implant has a direct connection to the most sophisticated instrument known to man. Just send a few milliamps too much over there and it's partially fried.
• An infection, killing the person (since you can't just cut off the head like it's done with arms and legs in extreme situations).