Vernon D. is a member of VSP's Provider Services team.

Hot on the heels of some weird guy’s post, EyeWriter allows users to manipulate computer drawing programs with only their eye movements.

The EyeWriter project is on ongoing collaborative research effort to empower people, who are suffering from ALS, with creative technologies. The project began in Los Angeles, Caifornia in 2009, when members of the GRL, FAT, OF and TEG communities teamed-up with a legendary LA graffiti writer, publisher and activist, named Tony Quan, aka TEMPTONE. Tony was diagnosed with ALS in 2003. The disease has left him almost completely physically paralyzed… except for his eyes. But, the ALS hasn’t touched Tony’s sharp mind, creative energy or his desire to write graffiti. In August of 2009, artist from around the world: London, Hong Kong, Madrid, Amsterdam and New York City, converged for 10 days in southern California, converted Mick and Caskey Ebeling’s Venice Beach house into a laboratory and began to work with Tony on a low-cost, open source eye-tracking system that would allow ALS patients to draw using just their eyes. Read more.

Though still in the early developing stages, this looks great!

SE2 EP4 – Eyewriter Tempt LA from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

Via Jailbreak

Melissa W. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

I’ve been a fan of Team Type 1 for several years. When VSP became the exclusive eyecare and eyewear provider for Team Type 1 and Team Type 2, I was excited that I would be able to work with the athletes.

My first opportunity to work with them would be the Race Across America (RAAM). As I started preparing for the start of RAAM, I created a blog for Team Type 1 Jeff Bannink’s daily blog entry, and I put together a Where in the World contest where participants could enter to win the same pair of Nike sunglasses worn by Team Type 1 and 2 athletes. As I was adding the athletes’ bios to our blog, reading about their enthusiasm made me wish I could be part of such a grand endeavor. And then, the phone rang.

It was Peter Cowley with Team Type 2. He needed prescription cycling glasses, and he needed them fast. Peter’s eye doctor is in Milwaukee, but Peter was headed to California for the start of the race. It was a very tight timeframe. The cycling glasses required a unique cut for the wrap feature and a special coating for the lenses. I told Peter I would work with his eye doctor and do my best to get the prescription sunglasses delivered to his hotel in California.

I first called the VSP lab closest to Peter’s doctor. They wanted to help but didn’t physically have the frame at their location, so they put me in contact with the VSP lab in Sacramento. The Sacramento lab offered to drive to our headquarters and pick up the sunglasses if we had a pair on campus. Now all I had to do was locate the exact frame that Peter had. Fortunately, our Sales department had a pair and loaned them to me. The lab immediately started working on the order. They would have to overnight the frames to southern California for the special coating, but they assured me everyone was doing everything possible to get the glasses to Peter in time for the race. I was very happy when I received the call that the glasses would be delivered on time. Peter not only received the prescription clear lenses for his Nike sunglasses, but he also received prescription dark lenses.

The day before the race, my new clear lenses for night riding were here, along with a pair of sunglasses. I think these will be a huge advantage when I’m riding at night,” said Peter Cowley.

Through teamwork and collaboration, I was excited to be part of RAAM history, even if only in a small way.

As the race finally began, I watched as Team Type 1 and Team Type 2 showed determination and commitment to show the world that people who have diabetes can do anything. I was thrilled to see that Team Type 1 placed first, and Team Type 2 successfully completed the race. And, I was also happy to see Peter wearing his glasses.

Congratulations to both Team Type 1 and Team Type 2! You’re an inspiration to us all.

http://vspactive.com/2009/06/22/tt2s-peter-cowley-gets-his-glasses-in-the-nick-of-time/

How? By making investments that expand our business. We’re always looking for ways to develop stronger relationships with others that work with private practitioners.

Just recently, to enhance our contract lab network we invested in Perfect Optics^®, an optical laboratory located near San Diego, CA. This helps us strengthen our relationship with Carl Zeiss Vision, a current Perfect Optics partner and one of the top lens manufacturers in the world.

We also recently expanded our lab business in the Southwest by acquiring Legends 4.0^TM in Lewisville, TX. Legends 4.0 is VSP’s third wholly-owned lab, making us more competitive. And because Legends 4.0 is now part of our National Contract Lab Network, it gives VSP doctors another option when selecting a lab. It also gives us the potential to grow and expand.

I’m excited about these investments and how they’ll help us continue supporting private practice. What do you think about the changing eyecare industry?