[Cyborg] artificial retina

[Eric Boyd]

http://singularityhub.com/2011/03/08/artificial-retina-that-lets-the-blind-see-again-more-great-videos-of-the-argus/

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Yet the development of artificial retinas is not the only game in town, 
and there's a chance the progress towards cybernetic augmentation will 
be derailed...by advanced biology. It looks like it may be a race 
between artificial retinas and stem cell treatments to see which can 
restore normal human level vision first. Hans Keirstead and his team are 
exploring stem cell therapies 
<http://singularityhub.com/2010/06/07/hans-keirstead-transforms-embryonic-stem-cells-into-retinas/> 
that should be, all things being equal, on a time table to compete with 
the cybernetic developments at LLNL and elsewhere. No matter who wins 
that competition, millions of blind people the world over will benefit. 
And, while most of these therapies focus on conditions that injure the 
retina (such as retinitis pigmentosa 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinitis_pigmentosa>) there are more 
treatments 
<http://singularityhub.com/2010/11/24/fda-approves-acts-embryonic-stem-cell-trial-for-blindness-should-we-get-excited/> 
that could compensate other forms of blindness 
<http://singularityhub.com/2010/06/24/new-report-shows-stem-cells-can-cure-blindness-for-ten-years-and-counting/>. 
Watching the videos above gives me hope that humanity may cure blindness 
once and for all. That day isn't here yet, but it seems nearer all the 
time. Congrats to Second Sight and Argus for conquering Europe. FDA, 
you're next!
 >>

Eric
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