Overview
If you thought cyborgs only exist in sci-fi films like Terminator, think again. This engineer in California is a real-life cyborg and can turn his head “into a flashlight”.
The science and other stuff to know
Brian Stanley, an engineer and prototype machinist based in California, lost one of his eyes to cancer. Instead of being discouraged, he decided to replace the eye socket with a “Titanium Skull Lamp” that turns his head into a flashlight.
Sharing his amazing invention in a TikTok video, he explains and demonstrates how his invention works, effortlessly lighting up the hallway and bathroom in his apartment. Ideally, the cyborg eye only illuminates the area the engineer is currently pointing his head at, making it the ultimate hands-free tool.
@bsmachinist A brief demonstration of my Titanium Cyborg Eye as a flashlight! #technology #eyes #flashlight #led #prostheticeye #prosthetics #ocularprosthetics #oneeyegang #oneeye #cyborg #cyborgeye #cyberpunk #cyberpunkedgerunners
Even more incredibly, all the tech needed to turn his eye into a glowing light is contained within his prosthetic eye. And the eye can be turned on and off with a proximity sensor.
The engineer also explains that the eye has a battery life of roughly 20 hours, and “it does not get hot”. In fact, the eye can go even brighter. “This is half of my maximum power output,” he says in the video. “Safety is paramount, I will work my way to full power eventually.”
However, it’s worth noting that the cyborg-like eye doesn’t have superpowers like restoring his eyesight or X-ray vision.
So what?
This invention is an amazing example of what’s possible with a few simple, off-the-shelf electronics and some engineering experience. The inventor is even working to make his glowing eye into something other people could actually use comfortably. He has also experimented with a range of different colors and pupil shapes to suit different preferences.
What’s next?
This engineer isn’t the first to come up with the idea of a cyborg-like eye. Advancements in technology have enabled scientists to develop cyborg-like eyes that even restore vision.
For instance, a team of Hong Kong and U.S. scientists at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently developed a cyborg eye that works like the real thing. It even powers itself using sunlight. In another glorious example of the technology, this woman was also able to see after a neuro engineer installed a bionic eye in her brain.
