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

  • From: "Peter Beasley" <pjbeasley23@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 11:16:49 +0100

That is how we have always done it. When I was very young at boarding school, One of the mannerisms I and others had was to make clicking sounds which was discouraged by the staff. Obviously, they didn't realise that those clicks wer beneficial to totally blind children. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Clive.Lever@xxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:10 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: How the blind can use sonar to 'see' like a bat


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.

** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq

** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq

** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq



** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq

Other related posts: