Israeli scientists develop device which allows the blind to see, sort of

[Richard B Riddick]

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Scientists are taking a page from "Star Trek" as they help the blind to see.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced that scientists are helping the blind to "see" and describe objects. They are doing that by developing sensory substitution devices, which are non-invasive sensory aids that use the blind's existing senses to provide visual information.

The blind may wear a sort of visual-to-auditory device such as a video camera connected to a small computer or smart phone. The images would become become "soundscapes" that would allow the user to listen to and interpret the information from the camera.

It is not actually seeing and it is not like the real thing. The Huffington Post reported, however, that after some brief training users could identify everyday objects, find people and even read.

It also helps scientists study the visual cortex, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for most of people's sight.

While the science is new, the Huffington Post mentioned a strong resemblance to the electronic visor that the character Geordi La Forge, the blind engineer, wore in the TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

The study is published in the journal Cerebral Cortex .

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpps/new...-see-through-sound-dpgoh-20120216-fc_17981597

Its a camera and electronics setup which translates visual data to sound enabling a blind person to 'see' to a certain degree.

I wonder why no one thought of it, sooner.