Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Australia reveals prototype 'bionic' eye
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Photos
Sitemap
Australia reveals prototype 'bionic' eye
AFP - Wednesday, March 31
Send
IM Story
Print
Researcher Mandy Li displays a prototype bionic eye designed to help patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration at its launch at the University of Melbourne on March 30, 2010. The prototype consists of a tiny video camera attached to the middle of a pair of dark sunglasses
MELBOURNE (AFP) - – Australia on Tuesday unveiled a prototype bionic eye designed to restore sight to those with failing vision which supporters hope could be the biggest breakthrough since the Braille alphabet.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whose government committed 42 million dollars (almost 39 million US) to the project, said the device could be "one of the most important medical advances we see in our lifetime".
"The bionic eye project will keep Australia at the forefront of bionic research and commercialisation and has the potential to restore sight to thousands of people in Australia and across the world," he said.
The device, part of which is surgically implanted in the eye, is designed for patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by the genetic condition retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration.
It consists of a miniature camera, mounted on glasses, that captures images and sends them to a processor the wearer keeps in their pocket.
The processor then transmits a signal wirelessly to a unit implanted in the eye which will directly stimulate surviving neurons in the retina, signalling an image to the brain.
Those using the bionic eye will not have perfect vision restored, but it is hoped they will be able to perceive points of light in their field of vision which the brain can then reconstruct into an image.
Research director of Bionic Vision Australia, the university and research institute partnership which has produced the prototype, Professor Anthony Burkitt said the device could change people's lives.
"We anticipate that this retinal implant will provide users with increased mobility and independence, and that future versions of the implant will eventually allow recipients to recognise faces and read large print," he said.
Kevin Murfitt, chairman of the country's biggest service for the blind and visually impaired Vision Australia, said the bionic eye "will be the next big remarkable invention".
"This is truly a revolution and will be the biggest thing in terms of blindness and low vision since Louis Braille invented the Braille alphabet over 200 years ago," he told ABC radio.
The bionic eye is undergoing tests ahead of the first human implant in 2013.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
News Search
Top Stories
Europe risks 'second league' of world economies: IMF
Putin orders Russia to hunt down bombing militants
Atom smasher opens 'new era' for science
Elephants move like 4x4s: scientists
Britain emerges from recession with new growth upgrade
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Latin pop icon Ricky Martin tells fans he is gay
Atom smasher opens 'new era' for science
Greece five-billion-euro bond release meets timid demand
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Toyota global sales up 13% in February
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Prince Philip in strip club gaffe
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 Europe risks 'second league' of world economies: IMF
Want to see the iPad? So do Apple store employees
Top US commander visits Afghan frontline
CERN scientists closer to understanding Big
Palestinian killed as Israelis fire on protestors
Putin orders Russia to hunt down bombing militants
Nigeria court confirms Twitter chat ban on amputation
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
Atom smasher opens 'new era' for science
Taiwan design house files complaint against Apple
Part of Nero's ancient palace collapses in Rome
Elephants move like 4x4s: scientists
Maliki is block in Iraq coalition merger talks
|
Berlusconi's coalition score gains in regional poll
Britain emerges from recession with new growth upgrade
Coal fuels much of Internet "cloud", says Greenpeace
Palestinian PM ploughs ahead with future state
Rights at issue as U.N. chief tours Central Asia
|
Australia reveals prototype 'bionic' eye
Google searches trigger error messages in China
Facebook veterans in venture capital spotlight
Turkey asks Germany for help if EU bid stalls
|
Colombia rebels to free hostage held over a decade
|
Nigerian airports start installing body scanners
|
2 detained for dead babies found along China river
U.N. Bhutto assassination inquiry report delayed
Thai Red Shirt protesters reject more govt talks
Thai reds refuse more talks, plan fresh weekend demo
Obama signs final healthcare changes, defends law
Iran nuclear drive in focus at G8 talks
Leaks reported at China mine days before flood
Obama signs package of final healthcare changes
Vietnam signs nuclear energy pact with US
Kashima first into AFC Champions League knockouts
US general apologises for anti-gay remarks
Top US commander visits Afghan war frontline
Journalists in China say Yahoo accounts hacked
Want to see the iPad? So do Apple store employees
|
China's Geely to spend 2.7 billion dollars buying Volvo
Kijiji begone: EBay rebrands classified site
|
Bombardier signs credit deal with China's CDB
Peru's Machu Picchu reopens
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Honda to create 400 jobs in Canada
Author Stephenie Meyer to release "Eclipse" novella
China should adjust yuan before September: PBOC adviser
Maldives to host Akon's aborted Sri Lanka concert
US fund Steel Partners fails to oust Japan's Sapporo chiefs
Bordeaux uncorks blockbuster vintage, eyes China
India's Bharti clinches deal to buy Zain assets
Chinese director's film evokes civil war's cost
Work begins on Cambodian hydropower project
"Titans" Worthington fights his way to film stardom
Morgan Stanley, Mitsubishi UFJ to merge operations
Online Muslim sex shop launched in the Netherlands
Standard Chartered to raise $500 mln in India
Bruce Lee's wife, daughter open Hong Kong exhibit
Singer Badu causes stir with nude video at JFK site
|
Rip Torn exits rehab and pleads not guilty
|
Palestinian teen killed as Israelis fire on Gaza protests
Afghanistan now also world's top hashish producer: UN
Nine dead in blasts in Russia's Dagestan: police
Obama wants U.N. sanctions on Iran in weeks
|
US-TECH Summary
Iranian nuclear scientist defects to U.S.
EU subsidies have encouraged overfishing: study
Kandahar is NATO's next Afghanistan challenge
Death toll rises to 11 in south Russian bombings
|
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
Burglars tunnel into French bank vault
What, or who, killed the last mammoths?
sidesteps report of China hack of journalists' email
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
Putin orders Moscow bombers scraped from sewers
|
Kijiji begone: EBay rebranding U.S. classified site
Obama wants Iran sanctions within 'weeks'
'.yu' country code domain for Yugoslavia finally obsolete
China uproar over dead babies dumped near river
|
Google says China's "great firewall" blocked search
Web attacks hit Vietnam bauxite activists: Google
|
U.S. seeks 4-month Jerusalem building freeze: report
|
Muslim scholars recast jihadists' favorite fatwa
|
Haiti hopes for $4 billion to rebuild after quake
|
Afghanistan world's top cannabis source: U.N.
|
Turkey asks Germany for help if EU bid stalls
|
US wants 4-month Jerusalem building freeze: media
Mexico gang leader 'confesses' in US diplomat killing
Iranian nuclear scientist defects to US: report
Iran can't continue 'mad' nuclear race: Sarkozy
Sarkozy aims to rekindle US ties in White House talks
Obama signs final healthcare changes, defends law
Five soldiers, 25 rebels killed in Pakistan clash
China drought leaves 24 million short of drinking water
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
|
US, China change tone but disputes lie ahead
NZ moves to change divisive shore ownership law
Australian faces 15-year term in Bali drug case
Baruto becomes first Estonian 'ozeki' sumo wrestler
Taiwan auctions 30-yr govt bond at 2.23 pct yield
Seoul shares slip, post 0.6 pct gain on Q1
Chinese interest rules the auction world
China safety body says rules ignored in mine flood
Astronaut Aldrin still "Dancing," Doherty dumped
China blames poor safety for mine disaster
S.Korea c.bank's Lee calls for better relations with gov't
S.Korea military on alert after warship sinking
Two vintage L.A. theaters saved from closure
Google pegs China search trouble to 'Great Firewall'
US churches find no salvation from bad economy
Easter eggs may be good for you, study suggests
PAKISTAN
Michael Jackson's father plans wrongful death suit
|
Astronaut Aldrin still Dancing, Doherty dumped
|
Two vintage L.A. theaters saved from closure
|
Miley Cyrus all grown up in new movie
|
Suicide attack kills seven Afghan farmers: official
Eurozone inflation sharply up to 1.5%
Google says Vietnam political blogs hacked
Bomb attack kills 13 in crowded Afghan market
Suicide bomber targets police in new Russia attack
Zardari back in spotlight in Pakistan graft cases
|
Kandahar is 'cornerstone' of Afghan war: Mullen
German jobless rate drops unexpectedly
Ericsson wins $1.3 billion India deal
Afghan peace talks end with no headway, more expected
|
12 dead in new Russia suicide bomb attack
Putin to meet top U.S. foes in Venezuela
|
Iraq's Sadrists propose vote on PM choice
|
Divided Serbia apologizes for Srebrenica massacre
|
UK hung parliament risk up
|
3 trapped gold miners drown in Philippine tunnel
Rocket prepared for Soyuz space launch
Philippines defends record after EU plane ban
N.Korea's Kim likely to visit China soon: Seoul
Ford, Microsoft align to recharge cars
|
Google: Online attacks aimed at Vietnam critics
Georgia Sen. Isakson Readmitted To Hospital
Superman Sets Super Sale Record
Stabbings, Moscow Attacks Underscore Dismal State Of Security Cameras In New York Subway
Pre-dawn Pakistan violence kills 32
Insurance Companies Agree To Adhere To New Regulations
Man Commits Suicide By Jumping Off Empire State Building
Fugitive Thaksin continues global wanderings
University Travel Ban To Haiti Keeps Florida Students From Showing Film
CERN pushes Big Bang machine to new science frontier
|
Four Dead, Six Wounded In D.C. Drive-by Shooting
China official denies cutting off water to SE Asia
Man Shoots Wife's Dog, Passes Out While Trying To Bury The Animal
Australian "Ned Kelly" painting sells for record
Some Yahoo email accounts hacked in China, Taiwan
Miley Cyrus all grown up in new movie
Michael Jackson's father plans wrongful death suit
Taiwan and China discuss trade pact
Rip Torn exits rehab and pleads not guilty
Pakistan stocks gain, foreign inflows help sentiment
Ericsson wins $1.3 bln India contract
Singer Badu causes stir with nude video at JFK site
China's CNOOC says '09 profit falls 34 pct
Google service disruption bodes ill for Chinese
Ericsson wins $1.3 billion India deal
|
Sony to sell liquid crystal display plant to Kyocera
WRAPUP 1-South Korean president cements low interest rate view
China shares mixed after a 3-day rally
Tourist falls into active volcano crater on Bali
Philippines insists its airlines safe despite EU ban
Madonna and daughter collaborate on fashion line
|
Lady Gaga back atop UK album charts midweek
|
Stephen King puts the frights into baseball
|
Australian Ned Kelly painting sells for record
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights