Aussie Government Offers $40M To Build a Bionic Eye 89
An anonymous reader writes "The Australian Government is keen to replicate the success of the Cochlear Implant (bionic ear) by throwing AU$50M (US$40M) of funding at the development of a bionic eye. Bionic eyes have been trialed with some success in the UK — with recipients able to detect senses of shape and space, but very little detail."
$50M for an Eye...Really? (Score:0, Insightful)
Wow, and a car that gets 100 MPG is only worth $10M. Someone may have their priorities mixed up.
Re:$50M for an Eye...Really? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:$50M for an Eye...Really? (Score:5, Insightful)
Supposedly there are 50,000 blind people in Australia.
http://www.bca.org.au/natpol/statistics/2005_Blind_Stats_num_and_perc_by_State_Territory_CERA.htm
$50,000,000 breaks down to $1000/blind person.
I'd guess that the cost in social services to help blind people probably exceeds $1000/yr per person (i.e. well over $50,000,000). Therefore it would make economic sense to cure blindness.
Re:$50M for an Eye...Really? (Score:1, Insightful)