Their disadvantage is that they have to be scanned physically by a line-of-sight reading device.

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Sun rays are, as expected, absolutely no problem and we have to admit that on first sight we thought the device had a sticker affixed to its front -- its that good at reproducing printed materials.

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Second Sight is backed in part by the billionaire medical device investor Al Mann, who is its chairman, and by the legendary device inventor and venture capitalist Thomas Forgarty.

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I've yet to lay my hands on one, but after reading Brad's and Myriam's impressions of the device, I knew it was something I could purchase sight unseen.

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"This new surgically implanted assistive device provides an option for patients who have lost their sight to RP -- for whom there have been no FDA-approved treatments, " said Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement.

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The device, called the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System and made by Second Sight Medical Products of Sylmar, Calif.

FORBES: FDA Approves First Bionic Eye

Second Sight believes that U.S. insurers will likely cover the cost of the device for patients who may not have other ways of treating their vision loss.

CNN: FDA approves first bionic eye

In the air, planes will actually be nearer to the orbiting device, rather than farther away, and assuming a line-of-sight link from the road, the truck can work out kinks at a fraction of the cost.

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This means you're free to buy any Google-powered device to run the UI, which runs as an app overlay, with support and setup help from Sight and Sound Technology.

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