A group of researchers led by TANAKA Hirofumi (Assistant professor) and OGAWA Takuji (Professor, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University) in cooperation with a group led by YANAGIDA Takeshi (Associate Professor, Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University) jointly succeeded in developing intelligent retina switches using photoassisted atomic switches (PASs).

Previously the PAS technology used by these groups only made it possible for a PAS to turn on in response to optical stimulation; it had not been possible to make the switch turn off once it had turned on. The technology the group reports about here has made it possible for them to develop a PAS capable of repeated switching on and off. This technology will make it possible not only to view motion, but also to remember and recognize images that appear most frequently.

Recognition will be conveyed with a minute electric current, so it is expected that this technology may eventually lead to the development of artificial retina operated in conjunction with the electric potential in the human body and that it will make possible an image recognition system with learning function for remembering frequently appearing images or human faces.

(Link) http://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/2013/20130819_1