Illuminating the Path to Sight A Quest for Visual Prosthetics
Miguel Eckstein, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Psychological & Brain Sciences and
Computer Science UC Santa Barbara
By Sarah Colwell
Finding your toothbrush, recognizing a face, or identifying an object might seem effortless, but behind the scenes, the brain devotes over a quarter of its neural machinery to making these complex tasks appear simple. For individuals who are blind or visually impaired, these everyday activities present significant challenges. In recent years, global efforts to develop prosthetic vision devices have accelerated, aiming to restore visual function. However, a critical gap remains: assessing whether these devices enable users to perform daily activities effectively. This is where UC Noyce Initiative researchers Miguel Eckstein, Ph.D., Michael Beyeler, Ph.D. and William Wang, Ph.D. step in, pioneering a solution to bridge this gap. A Visionary Approach to Vision Restoration As a professor in UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Eckstein’s research focuses on computational human vision, visual attention and the perception of medical images. He has more than 200 published articles in these fields. Beyeler, an assistant professor in computer science, is a leader in studying visual prosthetics, also known as bionic vision. Wang, a professor in computer science, is an expert in artificial intelligence. Through the support of UCNI, Eckstein and colleagues aim to combine their expertise to create a sophisticated tool called the Computational Virtual Patient (CVP), designed to estimate how well individuals with visual prosthetics can perform everyday tasks. By leveraging expertise in artificial intelligence, imaging science and perceptual psychology, the CVP seeks to predict patient experiences and guide the design of more effective prosthetic devices.
Michael Beyeler, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Computer Science UC Santa Barbara
William Wang, Ph.D. Professor Computer Science UC Santa Barbara
COMPUTATIONAL HEALTH
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