Artificial Vision for the Blind by Connecting a Television Camera to the Visual Cortex
Wm. H. Dobelle · 2024
Blindness is more feared by the public than any ailment with the exception of cancer and AIDS. We report the development of the first visual prosthesis providing useful “artificial vision” to a blind volunteer by connecting a digital video camera, computer, and associated electronics to the visual cortex of his brain. This device has been the objective of a development effort begun by our group in 1968 and represents realization of the prediction of an artificial vision system made by Benjamin Franklin in his report on the “kite and key” experiment, with which he discovered electricity in 1751. * This new visual prosthesis produces black and white displays of visual cortex “phosphenes” analogous to the images projected on the light bulb arrays of some sports stadium scoreboards. The system was primarily designed to promote independent mobility, not reading. We have also provided a battery powered, electronic interface that is radio frequency (RF) 27isolated from line currents for safety. This interface can replace the camera, permitting the volunteer to directly watch television and use a computer, including access to the Internet. Because of their potential importance for education, and to help integrate blind people into the workforce, such television, computer, and Internet capabilities may prove even more valuable in the future than independent mobility. In addition, the image from the camera or interface and an overlaid simulated real-time display of the phosphene image seen by the volunteer can be re—broadcast from the system over an RF link to a remote videotape recorder and viewing screen. This allows real-time monitoring, as well as post-trial analysis, by the experimental team. The television camera, which is built into a pair of sunglasses, is shown in Figure 1; the prosthesis, worn by the blind volunteer, is pictured in Figure 2 and the complete system is described schematically in Figure 3, including both the television/computer/Internet interface and the remote Video Screen/VCR monitor, neither of which are shown in Figure 2.