Bionic eyes are awesome! Until the company goes out of business.

[thewayne]

Did you know there are such things as bionic eyes?

Some people with visual impairments have been receiving implants that give them a degree of vision. It may not be much, but any degree of distinguishing light and shadow can give them more freedom of movement in our world.

But what happens when you're about go get on to a subway platform and your eye suddenly goes dark?

The article is a deep dive into how the eye works and the fact that it's not an infallible cure for blindness. It's a tremendously expensive solution that requires a lot of training and adaptation, and now the company has decided to move on to more profitable ventures and support for the eye is going away, literally leaving people in the dark.

https://spectrum.ieee.org/bionic-eye-obsolete

Comments

[silveradept]

I feel like this kind of technology is something that has to come with a lifetime warranty for parts and repair for those who have them. You can stop selling them any time, but if you're going to get into the business, you have to be able to support it through the lifetime of the wearer.

[thewayne]

THAT is an excellent idea!  Upon the dissolving of the company or if the company abandons such technology, all patents and IP - including software and custom equipment - automatically escheat to the National Institutes of Health and/or the public domain. So I have stated, so it is done. ;-)

[silveradept]

Would that such sensibilities existed in the halls of the government.