Whenever the beggar on the streets of NYC happens to be a disabled person, pedestrians cannot merely walk past without feeling pity. Disability is a cruel punishment to human beings that is given even to the kindest and the brilliant. We, as humans, cannot "play" God and give these people vision or hearing, but technology is proving to be more than able.
Vision and hearing are all worked by the brain, and the eyes/ears are just tools used by the brain. Scientists are coming up with "cure" to blindness by having optic nerves regenerated, but it is undoubtedly a risky operation. Potential cure for deafness using stem cells is also a hopeful rumor, but with all the anti-stem cell organizations, it is a near-impossible feat to make it an official treatment. Using technology, however, to "replace" the brain's tools (such as eyes and ears), it may be possible for the poor men and women who could not enjoy all 5 senses of a human being to see or hear miracle. Robotic legs, arms, hands, fingers, and many more body parts have proved to be successful. How about a robotic eye or ear?
It is unlikely to have competition while putting these grand ideas into play. Hospitals, Surgical facilities, research centers, medical institutions, and others around the similar demography would become some of the target clients. The idea may seem unreal, but humans have come a long way seeing miracles "produced" by the booming technology that has yet to stop its rapid growth. Let's not forget that in mere 2 centuries, we went from the invention of light bulbs to super computers and space stations, and not to mention, robots who can play the violin. (wow!)
Jun Hyeok Lee
IST 195
Friday, September 04, 2009
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