Keeping an eye on things

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This is probably old news to many people, but it's new to me, very interesting, amazing, almost unbelievable and more than a little disturbing. 

Scientists have developed a prototype contact lens which can generate info-vision – the ability to stream information across a person’s field of vision. 
"Do what ?"  I hear you asking. I said the same to myself.
Soon we could be sending and receiving texts and emails, catching up with the latest news and generally social networking without even logging on to a computer or phone.
Images and messages will just appear in front of your eyes. It will one day be able to show directions and TV programmes. 
Yes, honestly.
Just imagine, you might never need that old fashioned Sat Nav ever again and you could watch Corrie and Enders while you are driving too. Get rid of that ancient Sky HD recording thingy that you just got installed. 
After blogging about my new phone just the other day, it seems a little 'previous' to be now talking about doing all the things I have not yet got to grips with in a blink of the eye - literally. I know there are many things that my poor brain can't fathom, but just the concept of this is quite scary to me. The next stage in this ever 'advancing' technology might be to connect our thoughts to this information stream. I find it difficult enough to keep my mouth under control, never mind my thoughts, so I dread to think of the consequences.

Within weeks  a number of people in Britain are to be implanted with a tiny device in their retina which, if successful could be on the market by 2013.It stimulates nerves in the retina which pass signals down the optic nerve to the brain to turn into an image.Robert MacLaren, the surgeon who will lead part of the  trial warned that 'the surgery is still experimental and the device does not work in all cases.'  Well, it's been tested on rabbits and squirrels so far, so that's reassuring.

I'm all for improving things for health reasons and education is by it's nature an ever evolving concept, but I am sure I am not alone in feeling wary of some of this. Or maybe I am just showing Luddite tendencies,  or whatever today's equivalent may be.














Comments

Patsy said…
I don't fancy that at all.
22 November 2011 at 12:26
Maxi said…
Me neither. How would you ever get any peace and quiet and 'unplug'? No thanks.
25 November 2011 at 09:24
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