Bionic vision: The brain-machine interface

2018 Joint Lecture with the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (Victorian Division)

How are engineers and clinicians connecting specialised machines with our brains, and how far can we take this rapidly-evolving relationship?

The cortex – or cerebrum – is the largest part of the human brain, associated with higher brain function such as thought and action. Cortical implants are at the forefront of exciting new developments in bioengineering and neurosurgery, providing the human brain with new opportunities for direct interaction with the world outside the body, with particular application to overcoming the body’s physical impairments.

The Monash Vision Group is a consortium of engineers and biomedical scientists, bringing together colleagues from Monash University, clinicians from the Alfred Hospital and two biofabrication companies (MiniFAB and Grey Innovation). This dynamic team is developing implants for the brain’s cortex, along with a sophisticated electronic system and software, to provide patients with a new source of vision to aid in daily life.

Join Professor Arthur Lowery, an Electrical and Computer Systems Engineer leading the Monash Vision Group, to explore the challenges in interfacing with the brain via wireless connections, and the opportunities for brain-machine interfaces that may follow.

About the speaker

Professor Arthur Lowery is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University, Clayton and Director of the Monash Vision Group. He is a past ATSE Clunies-Ross Award recipient and was inducted as an ATSE Fellow for his work developing design software for optical telecommunications devices and systems. He is currently an ARC Laureate Fellow working on the convergence of electronic and photonic technologies.