A quick search of our archives reveals bionic eyes were always in our sights.
*ahem*
Anyway, it’s not quite seeing with your tongue. It is an achievable technology in our near future. 2013 to be precise.
The set-up includes a video camera mounted to glasses to capture images, a wireless processor to convert and send those images to the implant, and a chip with 98 electrodes that is attached to the retina. When the implant receives signals from the processor, it stimulates the optic nerve, which directs the electrical impulses from the retina to the brain’s visual center.
“We anticipate that this retinal implant will provide users with increased mobility and independence,” said Anthony Burkitt, BVA’s research director and an engineering professor at the University of Melbourne.
Next up: Scientists find a way to lick with your eyes, eat with your ears, and drink with your finger.
Oh, wait.
