"Imaging devices are everywhere, from cameras to MRI machines to our own eyes. THE FUTURE OF SEEING takes readers into the history, present status, and potential future of imaging. The book's story is told in two parts. Part One begins with the origins of life on our planet, when the first sets of eyes evolved. From there, it weaves the narrative all the way through the invention of telescopes, cameras, and modern-day high technology such as X-ray machines and CAT scanners. Whereas early life on Earth operated without vision entirely, now humans can see directly into the body without having to cut into it. This book is a celebration of that innovation. Dr. Sodickson's take is unique in that there currently is no book on the market that deals with imagingas a key part of the history of life on Earth and ties it in to technologies that will shape our future. Part Two delves into what is to come in imaging, according to Dr. Sodickson. Imaging is set to be useful not only for diagnosing diseases, but also for detecting small changes in health early enough to prevent the onset of disease in the first place. The ramifications of this potential future of imaging for privacy, ethics, and politics are huge, and cannot be ignored to focus only on feel-good progress. This book does not shy away from discussing such topics. Sodickson is a physicist in medicine who is an expert on the technology and history of imaging. "-- Provided by publisher.
Daniel K. Sodickson—a physicist and biomedical imaging innovator—explores the rich history and surprising future of vision, from the evolution of eyes to emerging high-tech devices.
Over the centuries, we have learned to peer into what was once invisible. Imaging devices like cameras, telescopes, microscopes, and MRI machines map the world around, beyond, and within us in ways the naked eye could never see. In so doing, these technologies have transformed our understanding of our place in the universe and our conception of our own bodies—and we may be on the cusp of an even greater revolution.
Daniel K. Sodickson—a physicist and biomedical imaging innovator—explores the rich history and surprising future of vision, from the evolution of eyes to emerging high-tech devices. Beginning in the early oceans, when organisms first developed sight, The Future of Seeing tells the stories of the many remarkable tools people have invented to extend our natural vision. Ranging from the tales of brilliant inventors to profiles of everyday people, this book shows how imaging has transformed the practice of medicine, reshaped the global economy, and complicated the notion of privacy. In the era of artificial intelligence, Sodickson argues, it will be reinvented even further, emulating not only our senses but also our brains. Inviting and eye-opening, The Future of Seeing is a revelatory look at what imaging teaches us about the way we see the world, each other, and ourselves.
