Aug 14, 2009

Brainport Vision Device enables people who are blind see in 3D via tongue.

The best part of this video is when the man is able to play a games (tic-tac-toe & rock, paper, scissors) with is daughter as he uses the vision device:


(The father depicted in the video is Erik Weihenmayer, who is a professional mountaineer and motivational speaker. He's the only blind person to have climbed the "Seven Summits", the highest points on each continent.)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/08/14aug09_brainportreturns.jpg
Photo courtesy of engadget

The system uses a head-mounted video camera which takes in visual information and translates it into electric patterns on a tab placed on the tongue in such a was that 3D representation is interpreted by the brain.

http://vision.wicab.com/media/bpwave5i.jpg

It should be noted that the BrainPort vision device is investigative and not yet available for sale.

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(Also posted on the TechPsych blog)

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