Did you know that Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has just unveiled a device that could potentially cure blindness? Yes, it’s true! This device, called Blindsight, has recently received FDA approval to begin human trials, and Musk believes it could even help people who have been blind since birth. But the way this device works might just blow your mind.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND BLINDSIGHT
In most cases, vision loss is due to issues with the eyes or the optic nerve, not problems with the brain’s visual cortex. Current treatments often focus on trying to repair or regenerate the damaged eye tissue. Unfortunately, these approaches frequently fall short, leaving millions without any viable options. Here’s where Blindsight takes a revolutionary approach—by bypassing the damaged tissues altogether.
HOW BLINDSIGHT WORKS?
Imagine you’re wearing something like GoPro-style Ray-Ban smart glasses. The camera on these high-tech glasses captures the surroundings, but instead of sending the visuals directly to your eyes, it transmits them to a tiny Neuralink implant in your brain. Here’s the exciting part—this implant bypasses traditional sight paths and directly stimulates the brain to recreate visual impressions.
PIXELS TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD
Blindsight’s vision may not look like hyper-realistic imagery. Instead, think of it as viewing the world through the pixelated graphics of an old Atari video game. Users might see basic shapes and outlines rather than clear images. But for someone who has never seen anything or hasn’t seen in years, these pixelated visuals could be life-changing, allowing them to recognize large objects and navigate around them safely.
LIFE- CHANGING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BLIND
For completely blind individuals, Blindsight offers a new form of independence and mobility. While it may not yet be a full replacement for natural sight, this technology has the potential to enhance quality of life and open doors to a world previously beyond reach.
