[access-uk] Re: How the blind can use sonar to 'see' like a bat

  • From: <Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 10:10:17 +0000

Yes George.  Way back in the sixties, I remember conversations at school about 
being able to hear lamp-posts. Some of the sighted teachers got it, while 
others didn't know what we were blethering on about.

Perhaps it is a skill that blind people could teach blind people.

Best,
Clive
 


Clive Lever
Diversity and Equality Officer
Kent County Council
 
Office: 01622 221163
Email: clive.lever@xxxxxxxxxxx 
 
 
Kent County Council
Room G37
Sessions House
Maidstone, Kent.
ME14 1XQ
 
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of George Bell
Sent: 22 May 2013 09:48
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How the blind can use sonar to 'see' like a bat

My goodness!  We could have told them that ages ago, and saved all that work.

George.

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Derek Hornby
Sent: 21 May 2013 20:29
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] How the blind can use sonar to 'see' like a bat

I thought this may  be of interest
How the blind can use sonar to 'see' like a bat Daily Telegraph 21 May 2013 
BLIND and visually impaired people can locate objects by listening to echoes, 
just as bats and dolphins do, scientists have discovered.

The built-in sonar may also help them with finding their way and with general 
spatial awareness.

Researchers at Southampton University devised experiments with both sighted and 
blind people in a chamber where other sounds, such as the footsteps of people 
placing the objects, were eliminated.

They found that blind people were able roughly to find objects from noises 
bouncing off their surface, while sighted people with good hearing showed 
potential to do so with practice. They tried sounds of different pitches and 
durations and discovered that some worked better than others and that it was 
more dif-ficult when the person was not facing the item, or it was further away.

Dr Daniel Rowan, the lead author, said: "Some people were better than others 
but being blind doesn't automatically confer good echolocation ability. Ability 
probably gets even better with extensive experience and feedback."

The researchers hope to develop training programmes and devices to help the 
blind as well as sighted people in situations where their vision is reduced.

The study was published in the journal Hearing Research.

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