Those who have been blind from birth might get to see the world with Elon Musk's Neuralink Blindsight: All you need to know
Sep 19, 2024, 09:24 IST
There was a time when hearing aids didn’t exist and people got a new sense of life when they started selling commercially. The moment turned out to be revolutionary, as people with hearing loss could enjoy life. Now, Elon Musk’s Neuralink might just be on its way to do the same for people with no vision. In a recent tweet, Musk offered a ray of hope to people who have lost their vision–or were born without it. He said that with his upcoming device, Blindsight, even those who have been blind since birth will be able to see the world for the very first time.
Neuralink's Blindsight gets FDA approval
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded a "Breakthrough Device" status to Neuralink’s experimental vision-restoring implant, Blindsight. This designation is intended to fast-track the development of innovative medical devices aimed at addressing severe conditions.
While the breakthrough designation is a significant step forward, Blindsight has not yet commenced human trials. The FDA has not provided further commentary on the timeline for these trials. The breakthrough status, however, suggests that Neuralink is closer to beginning clinical testing, a crucial phase that will determine the device's safety and efficacy in real-world conditions.
About Blindsight
Blindsight, as per Neuralink, is designed to offer vision restoration to those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves. Musk recently described it as a revolutionary technology that could even provide sight to those who have been blind from birth, provided their visual cortex remains functional. The technology works by bypassing damaged optic nerves and directly stimulating the visual cortex, the part of the brain responsible for processing visual information.
Musk has been candid about the initial capabilities of Blindsight, comparing its early-stage vision quality to the graphics of vintage video games like those produced by Atari. However, he remains optimistic about its future potential. According to Musk, advances in technology could enhance the device's resolution to surpass natural human vision. Moreover, he envisions Blindsight enabling users to perceive wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum, such as infrared and ultraviolet, and even radar.
In a post on X, Musk wrote, "To set expectations correctly, the vision will at first be low resolution, like Atari graphics, but eventually, it has the potential to be better than natural vision, enabling the user to see in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar wavelengths."
The potential impact of Blindsight is immense. For those who have lost their sight due to injury or illness, the ability to regain vision could be life-changing. The technology could also offer hope to those who have been blind from birth, providing them with visual experiences they have never known.
Musk’s vision for Blindsight goes beyond merely restoring lost vision. He has hinted at the possibility of future upgrades that could allow users to see beyond the visible spectrum, experiencing wavelengths that are typically outside human perception. This could open up new possibilities for understanding the world and interacting with it in ways that were previously thought to be only possible in Sci-Fi movies and shows.
While the device’s initial resolution may be low, its potential to improve over time suggests that Blindsight could become a powerful tool for enhancing human capabilities. The possibility of seeing in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar wavelengths could redefine the boundaries of human vision and provide new ways of experiencing and understanding our environment.
In parallel with the Blindsight project, Neuralink is also exploring other applications of its brain-chip technology. The company is also testing a device aimed at enabling paralysed people to control digital devices through thought alone. Called Link, this technology could have profound implications for those with spinal cord injuries, offering new ways to interact with the digital world and regain autonomy.
In January this year, Neuralink implanted its brain chip in a 29-year-old man, Noland Arbaugh. Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down after an accident, received the implant on January 28. Just two days after surgery, he was reported to be recovering well. After 100 days of the implant, Neuralink talked about Arbaugh's progress in a blog post. Before the implant, Arbaugh used a mouth-held tablet stylus to interact with digital devices which was cumbersome. After the implant, he could control his laptop and other devices more easily, even while lying down. Not just that, he could even play games using just his mind.
The company also placed the chip in a second patient last month. Musk had talked about the second patient’s procedure during a podcast with Lex Fridman. The tech mogul had said that he doesn’t want to “jinx” anything but the procedure went “extremely well” this time. He added, “There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.”
Musk had also said that the second patient too had an injured spinal cord, similar to the first patient. The billionaire didn’t reveal the exact time and date of the surgery but said that 400 of the implant’s electrodes are functioning in the second patient’s brain. According to Neuralink’s website, their implant uses a total of 1,024 electrodes.
In addition to this, Musk had also mentioned Neuralink’s plans to implant the brain chip in eight more patients this year as part of its clinical trials.
The initial focus of Neuralink was on creating technology that could help individuals with disabilities regain control over their bodies and improve their quality of life. The company's first major breakthrough was the development of Link.
Neuralink’s approach involves implanting small, flexible electrodes into the brain, which can then be used to monitor and influence neural activity. The company’s long-term vision includes not only restoring lost functions but also enhancing human capabilities and expanding the boundaries of what is possible with brain-machine interfaces.
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Neuralink's Blindsight gets FDA approval
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded a "Breakthrough Device" status to Neuralink’s experimental vision-restoring implant, Blindsight. This designation is intended to fast-track the development of innovative medical devices aimed at addressing severe conditions.
While the breakthrough designation is a significant step forward, Blindsight has not yet commenced human trials. The FDA has not provided further commentary on the timeline for these trials. The breakthrough status, however, suggests that Neuralink is closer to beginning clinical testing, a crucial phase that will determine the device's safety and efficacy in real-world conditions.
About Blindsight
Blindsight, as per Neuralink, is designed to offer vision restoration to those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerves. Musk recently described it as a revolutionary technology that could even provide sight to those who have been blind from birth, provided their visual cortex remains functional. The technology works by bypassing damaged optic nerves and directly stimulating the visual cortex, the part of the brain responsible for processing visual information.
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In a post on X, Musk wrote, "To set expectations correctly, the vision will at first be low resolution, like Atari graphics, but eventually, it has the potential to be better than natural vision, enabling the user to see in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar wavelengths."
The potential impact of Blindsight is immense. For those who have lost their sight due to injury or illness, the ability to regain vision could be life-changing. The technology could also offer hope to those who have been blind from birth, providing them with visual experiences they have never known.
Musk’s vision for Blindsight goes beyond merely restoring lost vision. He has hinted at the possibility of future upgrades that could allow users to see beyond the visible spectrum, experiencing wavelengths that are typically outside human perception. This could open up new possibilities for understanding the world and interacting with it in ways that were previously thought to be only possible in Sci-Fi movies and shows.
While the device’s initial resolution may be low, its potential to improve over time suggests that Blindsight could become a powerful tool for enhancing human capabilities. The possibility of seeing in infrared, ultraviolet, or even radar wavelengths could redefine the boundaries of human vision and provide new ways of experiencing and understanding our environment.
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Neuralink’s first brain chip
In parallel with the Blindsight project, Neuralink is also exploring other applications of its brain-chip technology. The company is also testing a device aimed at enabling paralysed people to control digital devices through thought alone. Called Link, this technology could have profound implications for those with spinal cord injuries, offering new ways to interact with the digital world and regain autonomy.
In January this year, Neuralink implanted its brain chip in a 29-year-old man, Noland Arbaugh. Arbaugh, who was paralyzed from the shoulders down after an accident, received the implant on January 28. Just two days after surgery, he was reported to be recovering well. After 100 days of the implant, Neuralink talked about Arbaugh's progress in a blog post. Before the implant, Arbaugh used a mouth-held tablet stylus to interact with digital devices which was cumbersome. After the implant, he could control his laptop and other devices more easily, even while lying down. Not just that, he could even play games using just his mind.
The company also placed the chip in a second patient last month. Musk had talked about the second patient’s procedure during a podcast with Lex Fridman. The tech mogul had said that he doesn’t want to “jinx” anything but the procedure went “extremely well” this time. He added, “There’s a lot of signal, a lot of electrodes. It’s working very well.”
Musk had also said that the second patient too had an injured spinal cord, similar to the first patient. The billionaire didn’t reveal the exact time and date of the surgery but said that 400 of the implant’s electrodes are functioning in the second patient’s brain. According to Neuralink’s website, their implant uses a total of 1,024 electrodes.
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In addition to this, Musk had also mentioned Neuralink’s plans to implant the brain chip in eight more patients this year as part of its clinical trials.
When was Neuralink found?
Neuralink was founded in 2016 by Elon Musk and a team of engineers with the goal of developing brain-machine interfaces that could change the way we interact with technology. The company's mission, it says, is to create advanced neural interfaces that can be implanted in the human brain, allowing for direct communication between the brain and external devices.The initial focus of Neuralink was on creating technology that could help individuals with disabilities regain control over their bodies and improve their quality of life. The company's first major breakthrough was the development of Link.
Neuralink’s approach involves implanting small, flexible electrodes into the brain, which can then be used to monitor and influence neural activity. The company’s long-term vision includes not only restoring lost functions but also enhancing human capabilities and expanding the boundaries of what is possible with brain-machine interfaces.
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