Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Nano-Sized Semiconductor Dots Could Fix Your Terrible Vision [Nanotech]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/yotZwOH8QIQ/nano+sized-semiconductor-dots-could-fix-your-terrible-vision

New Scientist reports that researchers at the University of Colorado came up with this crazy idea that if they inject semiconductor nanoparticles in your retinas, photons will make them glow, thus improving your vision.

These quantum dots, as they're referred to, would theoretically fluoresce when hit by light packets, and serve as a light amplifier for retinal images. The patent says early tests on rats have been successful, as they showed improved vision over the control group. The upside is that this solution requires no power source, and can target specific areas of the retina, making it more of a reality than bionic eyes or begging for an eye cam. [Patent via New Scientist via Oh Gizmo!]