Remember Geordi La Forge' eyeglasses on Star Trek: Next Generation? Blind since birth, Geordi is able to see through his VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ replacement.) Modern technology is not quite there yet but more digital enhancements may soon be available in an eye wear store near you.
Hearing aids have long been embedded on eyeglass temples. TriSpecs has come out with sunglasses having MP3, Bluetooth technology and headphones on the eye wear temples. Vuzix boasts of its iWearAV920 model of video eyeglasses which connects an iPod through a USB drive right in the glass temple allowing for movie or video viewing on the eyeglasses. Sony has also come out with its own version of this video eye wear. Another futuristic innovation is NEC's invention of the translator eye wear. The gadget called the Tele Scouter is a pair of eyeglasses without the lenses. Software translates the spoken word picked up by headphones on the eyeglasses and projects the translation right into the wearer's retina much like a movie subtitle.
Scientists continue to work on technology to aid the visually impaired. Soon Star Trek's Geordi LaForge VISOR may be around the corner. It can happen. It will happen.
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