[davidbnewquist]

The "visual tongue radar" (allows psuedo vision via an electrical impulse grid on the tongue) interface is intriguing. The reporter describes:

"Thinking back on it, I don't remember the feeling of the electrodes on my tongue at all during my walkabout. What I remember are pictures: high-contrast images of cubicle walls and office doors, as though I'd seen them with my eyes."

This article reminds me of a 2003 story (that made the cover of Wired) about a prototype brain implant artificial vision system and its hopeful Canadian patient, Jens Naumann. Here's a link: http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/sight/story3.html.

Does anyone know the eventual outcome of Jen's story? I can't find any follow-up stories about him.

The tongue interface seems like a less invasive alternative to Jen's system; although, you probably can't speak while it's active.

[geuis]

Dobelle died a few years ago. The FDA would never give approval for the experimental surgeries so he ended up moving his operations to Portugal. There were only a handful of patients that ever had this procedure done, Jens and Cheri Robertson that I know of. Dobelle's company was supposed to provide life-long support for Jens and Robertson but that has ended. The company ran out of funding within the last 2 years. Cheri's equipment no longer works, and she had to send it to one of the technicians who helped design it personally to try and have it fixed. I'm not sure if that has ever happened.

Cheri has had continuous problems with the implants since they were done. Her's never healed correctly and she has constantly been leaking blood and brain fluids from one of the cortical shunts.

In a recent interview where Cheri met Jans in person, he has been having many problems with his implants over the years and is thinking about having another surgery to have it removed. His equipment had stopped working several years ago and was never repaired. Overall, he ultimately said he was disappointed with the entire thing and probably would not do it again. Cheri remain(ed|s) more optimistic, but currently there is no long-term plan for continued improvement or support for the patients that underwent this experiment.

[davidbnewquist]

Thanks for responding. Based on the lack of follow up press, I had suspected less than hoped for results. Jens and Cheri were courageous for volunteering, and hopefully their data can be used to someday improve the technology.