Professor Richard Taylor Photo: supplied
A professor in physics, psychology and art, Richard Taylor believes the bio-inspired technology he is developing with a team at the University of Oregon could one day lead to a bionic eye.
Taylor is exploring how diseased regions of the retina can be replaced by fractal electronic implants, converting light into electrical signals. They have grown rodent retinal neurons on a fractal-patterned electrode, mimicking the repeating branching pattern in which neurons naturally grow.
He has also used bioinspired fractal images to reduce people's stress levels. Known for his work across disciplines, he is also considered a leading expert on the artist Jackson Pollock, proving that his paint splatters are in fact fractals.
Prof Taylor is giving a free public talk in Rotorua on the 8th of February, on the stress-reducing properties of fractals, as part of the 10th International Conference on Advanced Materials.
Neurons from the retina form networks on the patterned surface of an electrode fabricated at the University of Oregon, USA Photo: supplied
