[gui-talk] Fwd: Article: blindness licked by new tecnology

[Steve Pattison]

 From:  Ross de Vent ross at de-vent.net
 To:      vip-l vip-l at softspeak.com.au

A groundbreaking electronic device will allow blind people to "see" using
their tongues, scientists have claimed. 

The extraordinary technology takes pictures filmed by a tiny camera and
turns the information into electrical pulses which can be felt on the
tongue. 

Tests show that the nerves send messages to the brain which turn these
tingles back into pictures. 

People using the device, which resembles a pair of sunglasses attached by
cable to a plastic lollipop, say that with fewer than 20 hours training they
can make out shapes and even read signs. 

Scientists say learning to picture images felt on the tongue is similar to
learning to ride a bike. 

The BrainPort vision device is expected to be available for sale later this
year. 

It collects visual data through a small digital video camera about 2.5cm in
diameter that sits in the middle of a pair of sunglasses worn by the user. 

This information is transmitted to a hand-held control unit, which is about
the size of a mobile phone. 

The unit converts the digital signal into electrical pulses and sends this
to the tongue via the lollipop that sits on the tongue. 

The lollipop contains a grid of 600 electrodes, which pulsate according to
how much light is in that area of the picture. 

The control unit allows users to zoom in and out and control light settings
and electric shock intensity. 

William Seiple, research director at Lighthouse International, which has
been testing it, said:"At first, I was amazed at what the device could do.
One guy started to cry when he saw his first letter." 

Robert Beckman, president of US-based Wicab which is developing the
BrainPort, said: "It enables blind people to gain perception of their
surroundings, displayed on their tongue. 

"They cannot necessarily read a book but they can read a sign." 

Mr Beckman envisages the device being used to improve people's mobility and
safety.

Regards Steve
Email:  srp at internode.on.net
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