"Seeing" Sounds: Echolocation and its Positive Implications for Persons who are Blind

In nature,several species of animals utilize a process called "Echolocation" to help locate themselves in their surroundings. Echolocation is used most notably by bats, which emit high-frequency sounds into their environment, and then listen for the echoes of those sounds to bounce back to them. By listening to how the echoes change, bats are able to use their ears to "see" where obstacles are within their surroundings without using vision. Today, echolocation is gaining recognition as a critical perception tool for persons who are blind.

A device that uses this type of technology may be commercially available in the next two years (ScienceNet, Feb. 2000). The Spatial Imager emits a high-frequency sound in the same manner as bats to locate obstacles. This device has great potential in assisting persons who are blind navigate within their environment. The Spatial Imager interprets the echoes coming back to it, and sends a small vibration to the user's fingers that corresponds to where the obstacle is. This provides the user with a "tactile map" of their surroundings. The device may prove to be more beneficial than conventional navigation tools, as it provides a wider area of spatial awareness, including obstacles that hang from above. The Spatial Imager was invented by a group of scientists at Leeds University and is now being developed by the company Sound Forsight Ltd. Even in its developmental stages, this device has already received several accolades, including the "Smart Award" from England's Department of Trade and Industry.