[nfb-talk] Fw:Implantedchip'allows blindpeople to detectobjects'

Loren Wakefield isaiah5719 at mchsi.com
Sat Nov 6 22:46:05 UTC 2010


I have to wonder something.  Can any of us who either were born without 
sight or lost it very early in life, honestly say it has had no impact on 
what we would have done with our lives?  I'm not sure we can.  I will grant 
you that blindness is only a characteristic.  However, sight therefore, must 
be considered the same.  But which of us can say what impact that different 
characteristic would have had on us.  I bet none of us can.

Therefore, if the chip was a simple implant, and it had no great drain on a 
financial area, or it would have no side effects, and one could adjust to 
having it, what then would this different characteristic have on our lives? 
I doubt any of us can say with 100 percent certaincy whattwe would do.

I sometimes wonder if sometimes it is not just being blind that makes some 
unhappy, but more are those people happy with themselves in general. 
Therefore, would having sight make them any happier?  None of us can answer 
that for ourselves probably, and so maybe we should let other determine 
whether or not it would make them a happy person to the person making that 
decision.  I guess what I am not very successfully trying to say is that 
blanket statements are dangerous things to make, at least in general.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw:Implantedchip'allows blindpeople to 
detectobjects'


> Hi, John,
>
> Some of the limitations you mention with blindness are certainly true. 
> But I must say, I've never wanted to be an astronaut.  But keep in mind, 
> that other characteristics have their limitations, just as blindness has 
> its own. For me, being short is more debilitating than being blind, but 
> most of society finds it easier to work around limitations of shortness 
> than the limitations of blindness.  It goes to show that with alternative 
> techniques when practiced in ANY area of limitation, can level the playing 
> field.
>
> For me, I've been able to work at what I've wanted in my adult life, and 
> have been very happy and fulfilled, not resigned and accepting.  I truly 
> love what I do and have done.
>
> Judy
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Heim" <john at johnheim.net>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 9:10 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implantedchip'allows blindpeople to 
> detectobjects'
>
>
>> What's wrong with being blind? Well, it limits your job opportunities for 
>> one thing. I would have liked to have been an astronaut.  You can't 
>> participate in most organized sports. You can't drive.  You can't pilot 
>> an airplane.  You can't appreciate Victoria's Secret commercials.
>>
>> Of course, I'm not saying being blind is a tragedy. But its more than a 
>> mere inconvenience.
>>
>> PS: If I'm misinterpreting your words, all you have to do is explain 
>> them. If you calmly and rationally explain your point of view, maybe 
>> you'll convince some of the people on this list that you're right and I'm 
>> wrong. But you're not going to accomplish anything by trashing me.
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Gloria Whipple" <fairyfoot at webband.com>
>> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 4:34 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip'allows blindpeople to 
>> detectobjects'
>>
>>
>>> What is wrong with being blind?
>>>
>>> Where do you get off in accusing me of saying that you shouldn't have 
>>> sight?
>>> If you want the chip, well,  go ahead and get it! I am not stopping you 
>>> from
>>> wanting to see.
>>>
>>> Quit twisting my words around.
>>>
>>>
>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>
>>> cell number: 509-475-4993
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of John Heim
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 11:06 AM
>>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip 'allows blindpeople to
>>> detectobjects'
>>>
>>> Hmmm... This amazes me.  First of all, just because you seem to enjoy 
>>> being
>>> blind, that doesn't mean the chip is "stupid". Lots of other people 
>>> would
>>> prefer to be able to see.  Its like saying its "stupid" to make 
>>> paintings of
>>>
>>> sunsets just because you don't like them. Well, lots of other people do.
>>>
>>> I sure hope you're not suggesting its "stupid" for a blind person to 
>>> want a
>>> device that would give them sight. Because that would be stupid. If you
>>> don't want to be able to see, that's fine with me. But don't you dare 
>>> tell
>>> me that I shouldn't want to be able to see.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Gloria Whipple" <fairyfoot at webband.com>
>>> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 11:32 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip 'allows blindpeople to
>>> detectobjects'
>>>
>>>
>>>>I think it is stupid.
>>>>
>>>> Being blind doesn't stop me from doing things I like to do.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>>
>>>> cell number: 509-475-4993
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>> On
>>>> Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr
>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 9:15 AM
>>>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip 'allows blind people to
>>>> detectobjects'
>>>>
>>>> Nope.  My brain's just fine like it is.
>>>> Honestly, if one adjusts to blindness, why would one want such a thing?
>>>> IF
>>>> not well adjusted, then I suppose one might want such a thing.  but, 
>>>> what
>>>> with the programs we have in place, one would think such a chip
>>>> undesirable.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>>>
>>>> Now A Very Proud and very happy Mac user!!!
>>>>
>>>> Skype Name:
>>>> barefootedray
>>>>
>>>> On Nov 4, 2010, at 10:35 AM, Gloria Whipple wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Have no desires for that.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Gloria Whipple
>>>>>
>>>>> cell number: 509-475-4993
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>>>> On
>>>>> Behalf Of Jennifer Aberdeen
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:30 AM
>>>>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip 'allows blind people to
>>>>> detectobjects'
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank God!
>>>>>
>>>>> This is great news!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>> ____________________________________________________________________________
>>>>> _______________________
>>>>> Shop my store for the latest and greatest in beauty and wellness
>>>>> products!
>>>>> www.youravon.com/jaberdeen
>>>>>
>>>>> Get paid to read email!
>>>>> http://www.sendearnings.com/?r=ref1487633
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Kenneth Chrane" <kenneth.chrane at verizon.net>
>>>>> To: <CSDB-ALUMNI at googlegroups.com>
>>>>> Cc: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 8:21 AM
>>>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] Fw: Implanted chip 'allows blind people to
>>>>> detectobjects'
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> What do you think about this Article?
>>>>>> Ken Chrane
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: Lela Behee
>>>>>> To: venetian-blind at googlegroups.com
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 2:38 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Implanted chip 'allows blind people to detect objects'
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Though this may not be helpful for those of us who have prosthetic 
>>>>>> eyes
>>>>>> and so have no retina, what a very exciting leap forward this is in
>>>>>> technology!
>>>>>> Praise our Lord!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2 November 2010 Last updated at 20:49 ET
>>>>>> Implanted chip 'allows blind people to detect objects'
>>>>>> By Neil Bowdler Science reporter, BBC News
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Miikka Terho is given the task of reading letters which together
>>>>>> misspell
>>>>
>>>>>> his
>>>>>> own name
>>>>>> A man with an inherited form of blindness has been able to identify
>>>>>> letters and
>>>>>> a clock face using a pioneering implant, researchers say.
>>>>>> Miikka Terho, 46, from Finland, was fitted with an experimental chip
>>>>>> behind his
>>>>>> retina in Germany. Success was also reported in other patients.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The chip allows a patient to detect objects with their eyes, unlike a
>>>>>> rival
>>>>>> approach that uses an external camera.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Details of the work are in the journal Proceedings of the Royal 
>>>>>> Society
>>>> B.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Professor Eberhart Zrenner, of Germany's University of Tuebingen, and
>>>>>> colleagues
>>>>>> at private company Retina Implant AG initially tested their 
>>>>>> sub-retinal
>>>>>> chip on
>>>>>> 11 people.
>>>>>> Some noticed no improvement as their condition was too advanced to
>>>> benefit
>>>>>
>>>>>> from
>>>>>> the implant, but a majority were able to pick out bright objects, 
>>>>>> Prof
>>>>>> Zrenner
>>>>>> told the BBC.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> However, it was only when the chip was placed further behind the 
>>>>>> retina,
>>>>>> in the
>>>>>> central macular area in three people, that they achieved the best
>>>> results.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Two of these had lost their vision because of the inherited condition
>>>>>> retinitis
>>>>>> pigmentosa, or RP, the other because of a related inherited condition
>>>>>> called
>>>>>> choroideraemia.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> RP leads to the progressive degeneration of cells in the eye's 
>>>>>> retina,
>>>>>> resulting
>>>>>> in night blindness, tunnel vision and then usually permanent 
>>>>>> blindness.
>>>>>> The
>>>>>> symptoms can begin from early childhood.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The best results were achieved with Mr Terho, who was able to 
>>>>>> recognise
>>>>>> cutlery
>>>>>> and a mug on a table, a clock face and discern seven different shades 
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> grey.
>>>>>> He was also able to move around a room independently and approach
>>>>>> people.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In further tests he read large letters set out before him, including 
>>>>>> his
>>>>>> name,
>>>>>> which had been deliberately misspelled. He soon noticed it had been
>>>>>> spelt
>>>>
>>>>>> in the
>>>>>> same way as the Finnish racing driver Mika Hakkinnen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Three or four days after the implantation, when everything was 
>>>>>> healed, I
>>>>>> was
>>>>>> like wow, there's activity," he told the BBC from his home in 
>>>>>> Finland.
>>>>>> "Right after that, if my eye hit the light, then I was able to see
>>>>>> flashes, some
>>>>>> activity which I hadn't had.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Then day after day when we started working with it, practising, then 
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> started
>>>>>> seeing better and better all the time."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Soon Mr Terho was able to read letters by training his mind to bring 
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> component lines that comprised the letters together.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The prototype implant has now been removed, but he has been promised 
>>>>>> an
>>>>>> upgraded
>>>>>> version soon. He says it can make a difference to his life.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "What I realised in those days was that it was such a great feeling 
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> focus on
>>>>>> something," he says.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Even having a limited ability to see with the chip, it will be good 
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> orientation, either walking somewhere or being able to see that
>>>>>> something
>>>>
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> before you even if you don't see all the tiny details of the object."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Electrical impulses
>>>>>> The chip works by converting light that enters the eye into 
>>>>>> electrical
>>>>>> impulses
>>>>>> which are fed into the optic nerve behind the eye.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It is externally powered and in the initial study was connected to a
>>>> cable
>>>>>
>>>>>> which
>>>>>> protruded from the skin behind the ear to connect with a battery.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The team are now testing an upgrade in which the device is all 
>>>>>> contained
>>>>>> beneath
>>>>>> the skin, with power delivered though the skin via an external device
>>>> that
>>>>>
>>>>>> clips
>>>>>> behind the ear.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is by no means the only approach being taken by scientists to 
>>>>>> try
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> restore some visual ability to people with retinal dysfunction - 
>>>>>> what's
>>>>>> called
>>>>>> retinal dystrophy.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A rival chip by US-based Second Sight that sits on top of the retina 
>>>>>> has
>>>>>> already
>>>>>> been implanted in patients, but that technique requires the patient 
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> be
>>>>
>>>>>> fitted
>>>>>> with a camera fixed to a pair of glasses.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Charities gave the news of the latest work a cautious welcome.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> David Head, of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society, said: "It's
>>>>>> really
>>>>>> fascinating work, but it doesn't restore vision. It rather gives 
>>>>>> people
>>>>>> signals
>>>>>> which help them to interpret."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Peoria Blind Center
>>>>>> www.peoriablindcenter.org
>>>>>> Here is the name of the group on facebook: PeoriArea Blind People's
>>>>>> Center.  Your friends on facebook are going to have to get on
>>>>>> their facebook account and search for the group's name to join, or to
>>>>>> see
>>>>
>>>>>> what we are about.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>>>>> Groups
>>>>
>>>>>> "venetian blind" group.
>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to venetian-blind at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>>>>>> venetian-blind+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
>>>>>> For more options, visit this group at
>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/venetian-blind?hl=en.
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
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