How modern technology is helping us to regain our lost senses?

in #technology6 years ago

Since long time, technology has been helping the people with disabilities. 3000 years ago, one of the oldest medical device; prosthetic toe was found in mummy of an Egyptian woman who used it to help walk.

Today nearly all smartphones have built-in assistive technologies to help hearing and visually operated users. Now-a-days technology has reached at that point where patients have restored their vision, hearing and movement. Advance implantable devices have made it possible to do these miracles.

In this post, we shall discuss some amazing technologies who have helped millions of people to live happy and comfortable life.

Advancements in hearing impairments:

Hearing aids are one of the most common devices to help hearing impaired people. These devices have been around for more than 70 years, they are still continuously improving with innovative features.

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One of these latest addition is wireless Bluetooth integration into smartphones computers and other devices. It helps people to enjoy music and identify various sounds and help to adjust hearing aid settings using app. Earlens has developed a hearing aid device which stimulates the eardrum using light pulses instead of sound waves. It results in very superior sound in compared to traditional hearing aids.

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The hearing impaired people who want to communicate over the phone, speech-to text system has improved affectedly due to advanced machine learning technology. This technology is similar to what we found in Siri, Alexa and other voice activated devices. Motion Savy has developed a table computer which can interpret speech and American Sign Language and allows users who are deaf and mute to communicate with each other.

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Cochlear implant which is neuroprosthetic, is one of the most advanced hearing devices. It is electronic device which is surgically embedded in both ears and provides sense of sound to deaf or hard-of-hearing people. The cochlear implant bypasses damaged part of ear by creating electrical pulses and stimulates the cochlea cells. Cochlea is tiny portion of inner ear that is responsible for sending sound signals to brain. The cochlear implants are yet not able to restore hearing to such level where patients can enjoy fine music. They can help to identify everyday sounds.

Advancements in visual impairments:

Assistive visual technology has progressed very fast in recent years. Small cameras have become reduced to wear on body of visually impaired person. When the person approaches an obstacle, it alerts him by creating vibrations.

These devices create alert sounds for different obstacles that users learn to interpret. These assistive devices when combined with mobile technology, GPS and AI, provide extra environmental information like an augmented reality headset. Many companies have incorporated these technologies into white cans, which is useful tool to help blind people.

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Many companies have developed an implantable “bionic eye” which is capable of restoring rough sense of sight. One of the most notable devices is Argus II which is developed by Second Sight Medical. It converts video captured by camera which is worn on pair of glasses into digital signals. The signal is then converted into electrical pulses in tiny device which is implanted at the back of eye. The retina is stimulated which is responsible for sending visual information to eye. However this device is currently capable of generating only black-and-white image.

Company has plan to release next version called “Orion”, which bypasses the eye and stimulates cortex directly. It would bring back normal sight for the blind people.

Advancements in mobility impairments:

Mobility impairments may be caused due to variety of reasons such as accident or disease. These have various level of severity ranging from difficulty bending a finger to quadriplegia. However, assistive mobility devices have become one of the hottest area of medical technology.

Most demanding and cutting-edge forms of assistive mobility devices are limb replacement prosthetics and full body exoskeletons. These both are made up of lightweight materials and help users to regain limb function and mobility.

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These devices detect self-initiated motion in the muscles and amplify it with the help of motors and actuators. The prosthetic hands have built-in sensors that add sense of touch. One company called SynTouch has developed a sensor that can detect temperature and texture of the object being touched.

For the first time, DARPA developed full body exoskeletons, that are wearable, to help soldiers carry heavy weight. Still they look awkward and need further improvement.

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The next version of bionic will facilitate paralyzed people to move their limbs with just their thoughts. Sensors will be implanted in brain, which will use state of the art technology of “brain-computer interfaces” to detect signals associated with muscle movement. It will then activate electrical muscle stimulators. These stimulators send electrical impulses into muscles and contract them. These stimulators will one day allow a paralyzed person to walk on their own will.

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it's really impressive to see how progress can be put at the service of the human being 👍
thank you for your article

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