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[[Image:GeordiLaForge2367.jpg|thumb|Geordi La Forge wearing his VISOR, adaptive technology for the blind]]
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[[File:Geordi La Forge without his VISOR.jpg|thumb|Geordi La Forge was born blind]]
 
 
'''Blindness''' is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. There are varying degrees of blindness, ranging from minor visual impairment to total loss of [[eye]]sight.
 
'''Blindness''' is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. There are varying degrees of blindness, ranging from minor visual impairment to total loss of [[eye]]sight.
   
==Causes of blindness==
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== Causes of blindness ==
 
Most visual impairments are caused by [[disease]] and malnutrition, though blindness can also be caused by various abnormalities, injuries, genetic defects and [[poison]]ing.
 
Most visual impairments are caused by [[disease]] and malnutrition, though blindness can also be caused by various abnormalities, injuries, genetic defects and [[poison]]ing.
   
 
*Genetic defects – [[Lt. Commander]] [[Geordi La Forge]] was born blind due to a birth defect
 
*Genetic defects – [[Lt. Commander]] [[Geordi La Forge]] was born blind due to a birth defect
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*Physiology - Some species, like the [[Aenar]], are always born blind
*Injury – [[General]] [[Martok]] was rendered permanently blind in one eye after losing said eye in a battle with [[Ikat'ika]]
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*Injury – [[General]] [[Martok]]'s eyesight was impaired when he lost an eye in a battle with [[Ikat'ika]]
*Magnetic fields – Prolonged exposure of humanoids to the intense [[magnetic field]]s on [[Galorndon Core]] resulted in [[Synapse|synaptic]] breakdown, which rendered La Forge blind even though his [[VISOR]] worked perfectly. ([[TNG]]: "[[The Enemy]]")
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*Magnetic fields – Prolonged exposure of humanoids to the intense [[magnetic field]]s on [[Galorndon Core]] resulted in [[Synapse|synaptic]] breakdown, which rendered La Forge blind even though his [[VISOR]] worked perfectly. ({{TNG|The Enemy}})
*Other intense energy – Lt. Commander [[Tuvok]] was blinded by a detonating [[Chroniton torpedo]] in an [[alternate timeline]] ([[VOY]]: "[[Year of Hell]]"); Mr. [[Spock]] was rendered temporarily blind after intense light was used to destroy a [[Neural parasite (23rd century)|neural parasite]] infection, his sight saved only due to his second set of eyelids ([[TOS]]: "[[Operation: Annihilate!]]"); [[Dukat]] was temporarily blinded by a burst of energy released from the [[Book of the Kosst Amojan]] by the [[Pah-wraiths]] ([[DS9]]: "[[When It Rains...]]")
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*Other intense energy – Lt. Commander [[Tuvok]] was blinded by a detonating [[chroniton torpedo]] in an [[alternate timeline]]; ({{VOY|Year of Hell}}) [[Spock]] was rendered temporarily blind after intense light was used to destroy a [[Neural parasite (23rd century)|neural parasite]] infection, his sight saved only due to his second set of eyelids; ({{TOS|Operation -- Annihilate!}}) [[Dukat]] was temporarily blinded by a burst of energy released from the [[Book of the Kosst Amojan]] by the [[Pah-wraith]]s. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}})
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== Attitudes towards blindness ==
 
On [[Earth]], the practice of institutionalizing the blind in [[asylum]]s had a history extending back into the [[9th century]], and it was not until the [[18th century]] that authorities created [[school]]s where blind children, particularly those more privileged, could obtain an education in specialized settings. Despite the negative connotations associated with blindness, many blind Humans throughout history lead rich lives despite their handicap, including the famous [[poet]]s [[Homer]] and [[John Milton]], [[artist]] [[Claude Monet]], and [[musician]] [[Stevie Wonder]]. ({{TNG|A Matter of Time}})
   
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[[Romulan]]s possibly kill children who are born with blindness or other such defects. When La Forge told [[Centurion]] [[Bochra]] that he had been born blind, he asked incredulously "''And your parents let you live?''", stating that the Human race was weak because "''You waste time and resources on defective children.''" ({{TNG|The Enemy}})
==Attitudes towards blindness==
 
On [[Earth]], the practice of institutionalizing the blind in [[asylum]]s had a history extending back into the [[Early history|9th century]], and it was not until the [[18th century]] that authorities created [[school]]s where blind children, particularly those more privileged, could obtain an education in specialized settings. Despite the negative connotations associated with blindness, many blind humans throughout history lead rich lives despite their handicap, including the famous [[poet]]s [[Homer]] and [[John Milton]], [[artist]] [[Claude Monet]], and [[musician]] [[Stevie Wonder]]. ([[TNG]]: "[[A Matter of Time]]")
 
   
On some [[planet]]s, [[genetic engineering]] has been utilized to ensure that blindness is a condition of the past. On [[Moab IV]], someone with such a disability would have been terminated as a fertilized egg. ([[TNG]]: "[[The Masterpiece Society]]")
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On some [[planet]]s, [[genetic engineering]] has been utilized to ensure that blindness is a condition of the past. On [[Moab IV]], someone with such a disability would have been terminated as a fertilized egg. ({{TNG|The Masterpiece Society}})
   
==Adaptive technologies for the blind==
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== Adaptive technologies for the blind ==
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[[File:Miranda Jones.jpg|thumb|A sensor web being worn over ordinary clothing in [[2268]]]]
* A [[sensor web]] is a garment of finely woven sonar units, typically utilized by the blind during the [[23rd century]]. The web can be worn naturally over everyday clothing, and emits low level sonar scans undetectable to the human senses. The web then translates the return signals into media perceptible by the trained wearer. [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Miranda Jones]] wore such a web which she used, along with her [[telepathy|telepathic]] prowess, to hide her blindness from others. ([[TOS]]: "[[Is There in Truth No Beauty?]]")
 
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[[File:VISOR 2364.jpg|thumb|The VISOR in [[2364]]]]
 
* A [[sensor web]] was a garment of finely woven [[sonar]] units, typically utilized by the blind during the [[23rd century]]. The web could be worn naturally over everyday clothing, and emitted low-level sonar scans undetectable to the Human senses. The web then translated the return signals into media perceptible by the trained wearer. [[Doctor|Dr.]] [[Miranda Jones]] wore such a web which she used, along with her [[telepathy|telepathic]] prowess, to hide her blindness from others. ({{TOS|Is There in Truth No Beauty?}})
   
*The [[VISOR]] is an external medical device used in the [[Federation]] to aid patients who have suffered loss of eyesight. The VISOR detects electromagnetic signals across the entire [[EM]] spectrum, and transmits those signals to the [[brain]] through [[neural implant]]s in the temples of the individual via delta-compressed wavelengths. Geordi La Forge, born blind, was given a VISOR after his fifth birthday. ([[TNG]]: "[[Hero Worship]]")
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*The [[VISOR]] was an external medical device used in the [[Federation]] to aid patients who had suffered loss of eyesight. The VISOR detected electromagnetic signals across the entire [[EM]] spectrum, and transmitted those signals to the [[brain]] through [[neural implant]]s in the temples of the individual via delta-compressed wavelengths. Geordi La Forge, born blind, was given a VISOR after his fifth birthday. ({{TNG|Hero Worship}})
   
*[[Ocular implant]]s are internal, surgically implanted medical devices which replace or enhance the eyesight of an individual. Geordi La Forge received occular implants in [[2373]], which eliminated he need for an external VISOR. The [[Borg]] also utilized occular implants as enhancements for their [[Borg drones|drones]].
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*[[Ocular implant]]s were internal, surgically-implanted medical devices which replaced or enhanced the eyesight of an individual. Geordi La Forge received ocular implants in [[2373]], which eliminated his need for an external VISOR. The [[Borg]] also utilized ocular implants as enhancements for their [[Borg drones|drones]]. ({{film|8}}; {{VOY|The Gift|Unimatrix Zero}})
   
*The [[tactile interface]] is a feature of [[24th century]] [[LCARS]] panels, which alters the normally flat panels (intended to be read) so that beings with visual impairments could use the consoles. ([[VOY]]: "[[Year of Hell, Part II]]")
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*The [[tactile interface]] was a feature of [[24th century]] [[LCARS]] panels, which altered the normally flat panels (intended to be read) so that beings with visual impairments could use the consoles. ({{VOY|Year of Hell, Part II}})
   
==Blind species==
 
*[[Aenar]], intelligent beings native to the planet [[Andoria]], are completely blind, though they have highly evolved [[telepathy|telepathic]] abilities.
 
*The [[Tiberian bat]] is a blind, winged [[mammal]]
 
   
 
== Blind species ==
==External links==
 
 
*[[Aenar]], intelligent beings native to the planet [[Andoria]], were completely blind, though they had highly-evolved [[telepathy|telepathic]] abilities.
*{{wikipedia}}
 
 
*The [[Tiberian bat]] was a blind, winged [[mammal]].
   
 
== External link ==
[[Category: Medical conditions]]
 
 
* {{wikipedia}}
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* {{NCwiki}}
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[[de:Blindheit]]
 
[[Category:Medical conditions]]

Revision as of 01:00, 11 June 2013

Geordi La Forge without his VISOR

Geordi La Forge was born blind

Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. There are varying degrees of blindness, ranging from minor visual impairment to total loss of eyesight.

Causes of blindness

Most visual impairments are caused by disease and malnutrition, though blindness can also be caused by various abnormalities, injuries, genetic defects and poisoning.

Attitudes towards blindness

On Earth, the practice of institutionalizing the blind in asylums had a history extending back into the 9th century, and it was not until the 18th century that authorities created schools where blind children, particularly those more privileged, could obtain an education in specialized settings. Despite the negative connotations associated with blindness, many blind Humans throughout history lead rich lives despite their handicap, including the famous poets Homer and John Milton, artist Claude Monet, and musician Stevie Wonder. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")

Romulans possibly kill children who are born with blindness or other such defects. When La Forge told Centurion Bochra that he had been born blind, he asked incredulously "And your parents let you live?", stating that the Human race was weak because "You waste time and resources on defective children." (TNG: "The Enemy")

On some planets, genetic engineering has been utilized to ensure that blindness is a condition of the past. On Moab IV, someone with such a disability would have been terminated as a fertilized egg. (TNG: "The Masterpiece Society")

Adaptive technologies for the blind

Miranda Jones

A sensor web being worn over ordinary clothing in 2268

VISOR 2364

The VISOR in 2364

  • A sensor web was a garment of finely woven sonar units, typically utilized by the blind during the 23rd century. The web could be worn naturally over everyday clothing, and emitted low-level sonar scans undetectable to the Human senses. The web then translated the return signals into media perceptible by the trained wearer. Dr. Miranda Jones wore such a web which she used, along with her telepathic prowess, to hide her blindness from others. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")
  • The VISOR was an external medical device used in the Federation to aid patients who had suffered loss of eyesight. The VISOR detected electromagnetic signals across the entire EM spectrum, and transmitted those signals to the brain through neural implants in the temples of the individual via delta-compressed wavelengths. Geordi La Forge, born blind, was given a VISOR after his fifth birthday. (TNG: "Hero Worship")


Blind species

External link