The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has a chance to help people with vision problems see with a new project that could give users vision like that of the Terminator or Robocop.
The initiative comes in the form of a cortical modem concept that the U.S. military research and development agency presented at the Biology Is Technology conference in Silicon Valley, according to Humanity+ Magazine. Project Manager Philip Alvelda said the direct neural interface (DNI) chip will tap into the visual cortex be able to display information without using glasses or goggles.
The final version of the technology is planned to be a device about the size of two stacked nickels that will cost only U.S. $10 to build.
"The implications of this project are astounding," the publication reported.
The cortical modem is based on optogenetics, a field that involves studying cells in living tissue and even using techniques like shining light on such cells in order to control them, CNET reported.
In addition to giving the blind the ability to read and write information, the project has the potential to completely replace virtual reality in the future, The Daily Caller reported.
However, the cortical modem still needs some development before becoming available to the public, as researchers must genetically alter the DNA in a person's neurons in order for the technology to work.
Human testing of the cortical modem has yet to take place, and scientists currently don't know the effects the technology will have on a user's health.
The cortical modem project is the latest development to come from DARPA, which previously upgraded its Atlas robot with a battery so it could move without its electrical tether, The Register reported. The agency also recently introduced biometric tracking technology, which it says can identify users through the way they move a mouse and can potentially replace passwords in the future.
