Electronic implants are transforming the way we interact with the world around us, restoring sight and mobility to those who have been left impaired by injury or disease. The latest breakthrough in this field comes from researchers at Moorfields eye hospital in London, who have developed a surgically implanted microchip that can convert visual information into electrical signals detected by the retina.
The chip, about 4mm square and 30 micrometres thick, is designed to work with infrared light transmitted via a camera in a pair of glasses. After just one year, 84% of patients in a trial involving 38 people were able to read letters and numbers with the device, demonstrating significant progress.
But what does this mean for the future? The line between humans and machines is becoming increasingly blurred. Devices that can read brainwaves are allowing paralysed individuals to communicate, while prosthetics controlled by sensors on muscles and nerves are restoring a sense of touch and proprioception.
Even Elon Musk's Neuralink venture has made headway in this field, implanting a chip directly into the brain of a volunteer to send basic commands to a computer. The potential is vast, but with it comes significant risks.
In medical trials like the one for Prima, there were 26 adverse events, including retinal damage requiring further surgery. As these chips are implanted deeper in the body, so too do the risks multiply.
Moreover, the brain must be taught to read the signals generated by the chip, a complex task that highlights the need for further research and development. However, with advancements in AI-powered pattern recognition and data processing, these devices are becoming increasingly useful.
Cost and accessibility are also major concerns, with some estimates suggesting prices ranging from £13,000 to £37,000 per prosthetic device, plus additional service costs over time. The Prima device is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration and EU regulators, a crucial step towards NHS provision.
The implications of this technology are far-reaching and welcome. As we move forward into an era where humans and machines are increasingly intertwined, it's clear that electronic implants will play a significant role in shaping our future.
The chip, about 4mm square and 30 micrometres thick, is designed to work with infrared light transmitted via a camera in a pair of glasses. After just one year, 84% of patients in a trial involving 38 people were able to read letters and numbers with the device, demonstrating significant progress.
But what does this mean for the future? The line between humans and machines is becoming increasingly blurred. Devices that can read brainwaves are allowing paralysed individuals to communicate, while prosthetics controlled by sensors on muscles and nerves are restoring a sense of touch and proprioception.
Even Elon Musk's Neuralink venture has made headway in this field, implanting a chip directly into the brain of a volunteer to send basic commands to a computer. The potential is vast, but with it comes significant risks.
In medical trials like the one for Prima, there were 26 adverse events, including retinal damage requiring further surgery. As these chips are implanted deeper in the body, so too do the risks multiply.
Moreover, the brain must be taught to read the signals generated by the chip, a complex task that highlights the need for further research and development. However, with advancements in AI-powered pattern recognition and data processing, these devices are becoming increasingly useful.
Cost and accessibility are also major concerns, with some estimates suggesting prices ranging from £13,000 to £37,000 per prosthetic device, plus additional service costs over time. The Prima device is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration and EU regulators, a crucial step towards NHS provision.
The implications of this technology are far-reaching and welcome. As we move forward into an era where humans and machines are increasingly intertwined, it's clear that electronic implants will play a significant role in shaping our future.
can u believe this tech is real?? like they've made these tiny chips that can help ppl see again! its so cool 
i mean, i know theres some risks and stuff but its worth it if it means ppl with impairments can live normal lives again 
and what's even crazier is how far elon musk's neuralink has come! implanting a chip directly into the brain lol. this tech is like something out of a sci-fi movie 
we gotta make sure its safe tho, dont wanna be stuck with a broken prosthetic or somethin 
I'm really interested to see how these chips are gonna change people's lives but like £13k is insane lol what if its not accessible to everyone? 
also gotta wonder about the long term effects, what happens when we're all hooked up to machines all day? is that even human anymore? 
still gotta worry 'bout cost & accessibility... think most ppl wouldn't wanna pay £13k+ for a prosthetic 
. I mean on one hand its awesome that people can see and move again but on the other it feels like we're losin our humanity a bit 
. And whats with the cost tho? £13k to £37k is straight up robbery 
! I dont know if its worth it but at the same time i guess thats progress, right? 
. It's like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it's actually happening in real life 
. I'm all for innovation and trying to help people who have been impaired by injury or disease. But at the same time, I do get worried about the risks involved 
. Like, if the chip isn't programmed right, what could happen? 
. But let's not forget about the cost and accessibility issues 
. I hope we can make it more affordable soon so that everyone can benefit from this technology 
.
those researchers at Moorfields eye hospital r literally geniuses & i cant believe they've made such progress in just one year
humans & machines r gettin closer & closer & its gonna be wild to see what happens next 
. And the fact that these chips are already showing promising results with 84% of patients being able to read letters and numbers in just one year is insane! 
.
. £13,000 to £37,000 for a prosthetic device is steep, especially for NHS provision 
. And what about the long-term effects of having these chips implanted? We need more research on that front 
it sounds like sci-fi, but its real! and with advancements in AI-powered pattern recognition & data processing, these devices are gettin' more useful by the day 
...still, i think its cool how electronic implants can help people & expand our human-machine boundaries 
and then there's the cost thing... £13k to £37k per device?! that's like, a small house 
the 84% success rate is crazy! 
And what about all the risks involved? Retinal damage, brain-implant malfunctions... it's all just too much for my anxiety 
. And don't even get me started on the cost of maintenance and service