Home

ECHOLOCATION

Echolocation is a natural sonar system that animals such as bats, dolphins and whales use to perceive their environment. Bats emit ultrasonic chirps and listen for "echoes" to navigate and negotiate obstacles. In 1938, Donald Griffin an American scientist discovered that bats used these high frequency sounds and termed it echolocation. A broad definition may be the ability to hear echoes, but it's literally "seeing" with sound. The sounds travel through air or water in waves. When the sound wave encounters an object, it bounces off the surface and comes back as an echo. Listening and interpreting the returning echo can provide information about location (where the object is), dimension (how big it is and it's general shape), and density (how solid it is). For example, a louder echo might result from a larger, closer, or denser object.

Dan Kish taught himself echolocation as a child, making tongue clicks and listening to the sounds or echoes as they bounced off objects. He was the first certified blind Orientation & Mobility (O&M) instructor, and is an expert at using and teaching "echolocation." He and many of his students are remarkably accurate and can distinguish bushes from trees, parked cars from vans to smaller details such as poles, fences with bars, and trees the diameter of a half dollar. By using echolocation, the blind can find their way safely through unfamiliar areas. Dan's method of teaching is exciting. He plays laser tag, takes hikes, rides mountain bikes or skateboards, ice skates, and plays basketball or soccer with his students. This is excellent in building self-esteem in children who grow up hearing "you can't" or "you shouldn't," and helps develop their skills and abilities far beyond what is traditionally expected.

Animated Graphics courtesy of Harry the Cat

Philosophy

Echolocation

Why Bats?

Leaders

How it's done

News Events

Photos

Partners

Contact Us