Love him or hate him, Elon Musk continues to push boundaries in science in technology that sometimes seem too good to be true.
From his line of electric cars to rockets fired off into space, the billionaire has proved his vision is sometimes on a level of what once may have been seen as science fiction but now a reality. One of the latest updates from the Tesla CEO had to do with giving sight to the blind, with Musk even giving a nod to a famous Star Trek character well-known to Generation X.
In Gene Roddenberry’s “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” actor LeVar Burton played Lt. Geordi LaForge who was born blind but wore a special visor that allowed him to see. Musk referred to what was a fantasy then a post on X about Neuralink’s brain-computer interface.
“The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see,” Musk wrote about the update from Neuralink, the company he founded with scientists and engineers that launched in 2016. “Provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.”
The Blindsight device from Neuralink will enable even those who have lost both eyes and their optic nerve to see.
Provided the visual cortex is intact, it will even enable those who have been blind from birth to see for the first time.
To set expectations correctly, the vision… https://t.co/MYLHNcPrw6 pic.twitter.com/RAenDpd3fx
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2024
“To set expectations correctly, the vision will be at first be low resolution, like Atari graphics, but eventually it has the potential be better than natural vision and enable you to see in infrared, ultraviolet or even radar wavelengths, like Geordi La Forge,” Musk added.
“Neuralink is currently seeking people with quadriplegia to participate in a groundbreaking investigational medical device clinical trial for our brain-computer interface,” the company says on its webpage.
Examples of the breakthroughs have been reported and posted on X by the company and Musk.
“I should mention that the Blindsight implant is already working in monkeys.
Resolution will be low at first, like early Nintendo graphics, but ultimately may exceed normal human vision.pic.twitter.com/kw1foEVbyS— Laughing Legends (@LaughingLegend0) September 18, 2024
Social media users celebrated the latest green light from the FDA for Neuralink’s Blindsight as the stuff of science fiction becomes reality.
Miracles for many unfolding
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) September 17, 2024
Wow. You are literally saving the world and changing many lives for the better.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 17, 2024
You’ll often hear secular atheists refer to themselves as humanists, but Elon Musk is a true humanist.
He wants to see humans build, explore, thrive, be born in greater numbers, & be healthier.
I’m not sure what I think of some of his ideas, but you have to admire his vision.
— Jackie Chea ⚖️ (@Fair_and_Biased) September 17, 2024
These are definitely exciting times to be alive.
It will also be great to see when the Neurallink can be used to enable spinal cord injured people to walk again.
— Planet Of Memes (@PlanetOfMemes) September 17, 2024
Let’s change the world AGAIN. This is Phenomenal!
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) September 17, 2024
Elon is doing everything he can to help humanity.
Democrats are doing the exact opposite.
— DK🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸 (@1Nicdar) September 17, 2024
As a blind person, it is incredibly exciting to read this tweet. I truly hope your vision becomes a reality. I promise to buy a Tesla if I can drive thanks to this development 🙏
— אביחי שלי – Avihai Shelli (@avihai_shelli) September 17, 2024
