Posts: 14,118
Threads: 61
Joined: Oct 2014
A new device to help the blind to see has been developed by scientists. The electric lollipop or Brain-Port vision device captures images using a small camera and then turns the image into tiny tingles on the tongue. Tingles are sent to the brain, which then turns the tingles into pictures. After a few days of practicing people, who otherwise could not see, they were able to distinguish shapes, read signs and even read letters. This amazing new device can help people to interact with their environment so never before experiences.
Using the unique resources of the DOE's national laboratories in materials science, micro-fabrication, micro-electrode construction, photo-chemistry and computer modeling, the goal of the project is to build the device capable of restoring vision with materials that will last the life of a blind person . Just as blind people read words by touching Braille beats, some are now able to "see" objects through a special lollipop that stimulates their taste buds. The extraordinary device converts images captured by a tiny camera into a series of electric tingles, which can be felt on the tongue.