Did you know that about 1 in 300 people around the world are legally blind? But here’s an interesting fact: most of these people, around 90%, can still see some light. This information comes from Stephen Hicks, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford.
In many developed countries, one of the main reasons people become legally blind is due to a condition called age-related macular degeneration. This condition affects the central part of your vision, making it hard to see faces or read. Another condition, glaucoma, along with retinitis pigmentosa, affects the edges of your vision, often leading to tunnel vision. This can make it easier to bump into things. Over time, it becomes harder to read or recognize faces. Diabetic retinopathy is another condition that can cause vision loss in different areas of the eye.
Interestingly, only about 10% of people who are classified as blind can’t see any light at all. For the rest, technology can help, much like hearing aids help those who have trouble hearing. Our brains are amazing at adapting and can learn to interpret visual information in different ways. Some technologies turn visual information into sounds, helping users understand what these sounds mean. Others use the light perception that visually impaired people still have.
Stephen Hicks is working on special glasses that can help people with vision impairments. These glasses provide information about nearby walls and obstacles, and they can even show outlines and simple actions of people, like hand movements and facial expressions.
When we see the world, it’s a mix of what our eyes capture and what our brains interpret. It’s like our brains create a collage of images. The glasses Stephen is developing use a 3D camera system, similar to the Xbox Kinect, to help users see the world without color. Objects that are closer appear brighter, while those further away look darker, creating an augmented reality experience.
It’s fascinating to think about how many people gradually lose their vision and start experiencing the world differently. While lost vision can’t be fully restored, new research and technologies offer hope for recognizing objects, faces, and living more independently. This is a big step toward finding everyday solutions for visual impairment.
If you’re interested in learning more about such innovations, consider subscribing to BrainCraft for new and informative episodes every Thursday!
Research one of the conditions mentioned in the article, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. Create a short presentation to share with the class, explaining how the condition affects vision and what current treatments or technologies are available to help those affected.
Explore the different technologies mentioned in the article that assist people with vision impairments. Choose one technology, such as the special glasses or sound-based systems, and create a poster or infographic that explains how it works and how it benefits users.
Participate in a classroom activity where you simulate different types of vision impairments using special goggles or filters. Reflect on the experience by writing a short essay about how it felt and what challenges you faced. Discuss how technology could help overcome these challenges.
Imagine you are an inventor tasked with creating a new device to help people with vision impairments. Sketch your design and write a brief description of how it would work and improve the lives of those who are visually impaired. Share your ideas with the class.
Prepare a set of interview questions and conduct a mock interview with a classmate role-playing as an expert in vision impairment technologies. Focus on understanding the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals and the potential of new technologies to address these challenges.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Approximately 1 in 300 people worldwide are legally blind. However, the majority of these individuals, up to 90%, have some level of light perception. This information comes from Stephen Hicks, a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford.
In developed countries, a common cause of legal blindness is age-related macular degeneration, which results in the loss of central vision, making it increasingly difficult to see faces and read text. Another condition is glaucoma or retinitis pigmentosa, which leads to the loss of peripheral vision, often resulting in tunnel vision and an increased likelihood of bumping into obstacles. While individuals may still retain some ability to read and recognize faces, this capability diminishes over time. Diabetic retinopathy is another significant condition that causes loss of sight in various areas.
Only about 10% of those classified as blind are completely blind, meaning they have no light perception. Most individuals can utilize visual aids, similar to how those who are hard of hearing use hearing aids to amplify sounds. Our brains are quite adaptable and can interpret certain information visually. Some technologies convert visual information into sound, allowing users to learn what these sounds signify. Other technologies leverage the light perception that visually impaired individuals still possess.
The glasses being developed by Stephen provide spatial information about nearby walls and obstacles, as well as outlines and basic, real-time information about a person’s actions, such as hand movements and facial expressions.
When we perceive the world, it is a combination of what our eyes see and what our brains interpret. Vision can be thought of as a collage created by our brains. With the glasses Stephen is working on, visually impaired individuals can reconstruct their understanding of the world. These glasses utilize a 3D camera system, similar to the technology used in Xbox Kinect, allowing users to perceive the world without color. Objects that are closer appear brighter, while those further away seem darker, creating an augmented reality experience.
It’s remarkable to consider how many people gradually lose their vision and begin to experience the world in a completely different manner. While lost vision cannot be regained, new research and technologies offer hope for recognizing objects, faces, and living independently. This development represents a significant step toward a potential daily-use solution for visual impairment.
If you haven’t already, consider subscribing to BrainCraft for a new informative episode every Thursday.
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This version maintains the core information while ensuring clarity and professionalism.
Blindness – The condition of being unable to see due to injury, disease, or a congenital condition. – Example sentence: Scientists are working on new treatments to help prevent blindness caused by genetic disorders.
Vision – The ability to see; the faculty of sight. – Example sentence: Regular eye exams are important to maintain good vision and detect any potential problems early.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Example sentence: Advances in technology have led to the development of smart contact lenses that can monitor eye health.
Glasses – Optical instruments consisting of a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision. – Example sentence: Many people wear glasses to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness and improve their vision.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Example sentence: Ongoing research in neuroscience is helping us understand how the brain processes visual information.
Impairment – A reduction in the ability to function, often used in reference to physical or mental abilities. – Example sentence: Hearing impairment can sometimes be associated with vision problems, requiring comprehensive care.
Glaucoma – A group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye. – Example sentence: Early detection of glaucoma is crucial to prevent permanent vision loss.
Degeneration – The process of declining in quality, function, or condition, often used in reference to tissues or organs. – Example sentence: Macular degeneration is a common cause of vision loss in older adults.
Retinopathy – A disease of the retina that results in impairment or loss of vision. – Example sentence: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes and can lead to blindness if untreated.
Neuroscience – The scientific study of the nervous system and the brain. – Example sentence: Neuroscience research has provided insights into how the brain adapts to changes in sensory input, such as vision loss.
