[accessibleimage] Re: Fwd: Re: Re: link echolocation Ben Underwood

Hi,

I can't claim to use echo location but, as John mentions, I can "here" large
objects by noticing the change in traffic noise and such.  This has kept me
from planting my face into some concrete light posts and some walls which as
I approach, I notice the difference in the ambient sounds.  A wall, in my
own home, though, especially in the quiet of the night, keeps its secrets
and will result in stubbed toes <laugh>.

cdh 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:accessibleimage-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Gardner
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 1:02 PM
To: accessibleimage@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [accessibleimage] Re: Fwd: Re: Re: link echolocation Ben Underwood

Hi.  "Echo location" is something that many blind people use, some 
better than others.  I have read books by blind people who claim 
extraordinary ability to "see" their surroundings using sound.  I 
have personally known several who snap fingers when they need more or 
better echo than provided by tapping their cane.  I have known one or 
two totally blind people who somehow were so aware of surroundings 
that they could avoid running into large objects, not by snapping 
fingers but just by using ambient sound.  I've also known a person 
who wore steel taps on his heels and could walk around his city 
without using his cane.  Nobody taught any of these people - they 
just learned it on their own.  Wish I was so talented!

John


At 01:00 AM 10/11/2006, you wrote:
>right! so how does a human "use" or access echolocation without some 
>kind of man-made device - does anyone on the list know?
>i thought it was just bats, dolphins and whales that have this innate
ability!
>this is still a mystery to me and yes susan, it sounds very dangerous.
>thanks,
>
>mel poluck
>e-access bulletin, uk
>
>
>At 20:06 10/10/2006, you wrote:
>>As I understand Ben's story from another article in the popular 
>>press, he does not use any devices at all.  It does seem a bit 
>>dangerous when you think about him navigating streets w/o 
>>anything.  The pictures which accompanied the other article I read 
>>showed him sitting in his mother's lap, which at his age, makes me 
>>wonder how independent he really is.  Perhaps that's just my 
>>cynical side showing.
>>
>>Susan Mooney
>>

John A. Gardner
Professor and Director, Science Access Project
Department of Physics
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
tel: (541) 737 3278
FAX: (541) 737 1683
        SAP URL: http://dots.physics.orst.edu/

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