As much as I love consumer electronics and communications, it's nice to know that not all money in the tech/gadget industry goes towards buying Steve a new turtle-neck. In fact technology can keep us healthy, and surely nothing is more important than our health. Whilst we've been getting all hyped up about Tablets and Windows phones there's been some pretty incredible sci-fi-ish medical breakthroughs.
Firstly, a ground-breaking eye implant has allowed three blind patients to see. Within days of being fitted with the electronic device in their retina, the German patients were able to see objects on a table, including a cup and saucer and one was even able to read his own name.
A British eye surgeon, who will lead the first UK trials of the device next year, said it was a significant advance.
Professor Robert MacLaren, from the Oxford Eye Hospital, said: “Until now this concept would have been considered only in the realms of science fiction. What surprised all of us was just how much resolution you can get from the implant.”
The device consists of an electronic plate just three millimetres square, which is coated with 1,500 light-sensitive sensors. Each sensor triggers an electronic pulse that stimulates nerves that lead to the brain. Patients see a rough black and white image.
In other news, jelly fish can find cancer. Scientists put fluorescent proteins from a common jellyfish into human cancer cells then use a special camera to find them.”Cancers deep within the body are difficult to spot at an early stage, and early diagnosis is critical for the successful treatment of any form of cancer, X-rays, for example, struggle to penetrate well deeply into tissues and bone, so diagnosing dangerous microscopic bone cancer is difficult. Our process should allow earlier diagnosis to take place," apparently.
It's no cure but anything that improves chances of survival is great news.