Blind boy uses sound to "see"

**ST240** · 11-13-2006, 05:35 PM

Article

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2283048&page=1

Video

I briefly saw this kid on Opera. He's amazing. Ben Underwood uses sound like a bat or dolphin to see. At one point he could tell where an object on a table was, and the fact that it was made of glass.

**Triple Threat** · 11-13-2006, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by ST240

I briefly saw this kid on Opera. He's amazing.

What did he sing?

**goandykid** · 11-13-2006, 10:04 PM

thats amazing

Who's that superhero that ben afflek played who does that, daredevil?

**CowPimp** · 11-14-2006, 09:24 AM

I must say, that's one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time.

**viet_jon** · 11-14-2006, 11:05 AM

amazing.

**Brachiisaurus** · 11-14-2006, 11:16 AM

I would be scared roller blading down the street, with sight!
That kid is brave.

**Trouble** · 11-14-2006, 11:34 AM

This is ultracool. I had no idea that humans were able to use echolocation so completely as a dominant 'sense'. I wonder if this remapping of the brain can occur in adulthood, or if it must take place in children. Note that they learned it spontaneously..by accident...maybe. Perhaps, in a distant part of our primitive brain, we had this capacity, maybe from living in caves, maybe adjunct to other senses, developed to avoid predators.

Thanks, ST240. This article made me think..

**P-funk** · 11-14-2006, 11:40 AM

whoa!

**tucker01** · 11-14-2006, 11:46 AM

Unreal I knew the other senses were enhanced, but that is absolutely amazing

**Vieope** · 11-14-2006, 11:58 AM

Most things are predictable, so he figured it out that was a trashcan in the suburbs in front of a house? What else could it be? It is a trashcan or a car, can you think of anything else?
Put a quiet tiger in front of him or something else unexpected, if he figures it out that is a tiger I will believe in him.

**viet_jon** · 11-14-2006, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

Most things are predictable, so he figured it out that was a trashcan in the suburbs in front of a house? What else could it be? It is a trashcan or a car, can you think of anything else?
Put a quiet tiger in front of him or something else unexpected, if he figures it out that is a tiger I will believe in him.

uh....did u even watch the video?

**Vieope** · 11-14-2006, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by viet_jon

uh....did u even watch the video?

No, I snapped my fingers and echolocated it. Of course I watched it. I mean it is great that he is able to handle such a difficult thing, being blind is not easy but what did he do that was so amazing that other blind people dont already do?

**viet_jon** · 11-14-2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

No, I snapped my fingers and echolocated it. Of course I watched it. I mean it is great that he is able to handle such a difficult thing, being blind is not easy but what did he do that was so amazing that other blind people dont already do?

are you blind?

how many blind people can play fuzz-ball? roller skate? play video games? distinguish a fire hydrant from a trash can?

**Vieope** · 11-14-2006, 01:14 PM

Thousands of blind people can do things like that.

**tucker01** · 11-14-2006, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

Thousands of blind people can do things like that.

Most can't to the exent he can.

**ST240** · 11-14-2006, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

Thousands of blind people can do things like that.

At one point on the show I was watching about him, they put a glass vase on a large table and he was able to tell exactly where it was located, and the fact that it was made of glass without touching either the table or the vase! Now you tell me how many blind people can do that without actually feeling around for the object.

**Pepper** · 11-14-2006, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by Vieope

Thousands of blind people can do things like that.

That's why People did an article on him and CBS picked it up on the national news.

**MCx2** · 11-14-2006, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

What did he sing?

I got it.

**Vieope** · 11-14-2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by ST240

At one point on the show I was watching about him, they put a glass vase on a large table and he was able to tell exactly where it was located, and the fact that it was made of glass without touching either the table or the vase! Now you tell me how many blind people can do that without actually feeling around for the object.

TV special effects.

**Cute Loops** · 09-13-2007, 04:12 PM

Wow I saw that like 1 year ago

**ST240** · 09-13-2007, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Cute Loops

Wow I saw that like 1 year ago

Yeah dude, this thread is like, a year old.

**min0 lee** · 09-13-2007, 04:54 PM

I See..........

**KelJu** · 09-13-2007, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by ST240

Yeah dude, this thread is like, a year old.

Lawl!

**FishOrCutBait** · 09-13-2007, 05:49 PM

his mothers name is aquanetta.

she also seems to have taught him how the hell to get by.

**min0 lee** · 09-13-2007, 05:56 PM

I can do that too!!

**BoneCrusher** · 09-13-2007, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I can do that too!!

Do what? Hang around doin nufin, looking ugly, and stinking the place up?

**min0 lee** · 09-13-2007, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by BoneCrusher

Do what? Hang around doin nufin, looking ugly, and stinking the place up?

I'm not ugly!

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 09-13-2007, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by BoneCrusher

Do what? Hang around doin nufin, looking ugly, and stinking the place up?

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 09-13-2007, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by ST240

At one point on the show I was watching about him, they put a glass vase on a large table and he was able to tell exactly where it was located, and the fact that it was made of glass without touching either the table or the vase! Now you tell me how many blind people can do that without actually feeling around for the object.

maybe Im stupid (I am) but in a case like that, and the trash can....what sound was he hearing?

I mean, what sound is being emitted from the trash can allowing him to know it was there?

**BoneCrusher** · 09-14-2007, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

maybe Im stupid (I am) but in a case like that, and the trash can....what sound was he hearing?

I mean, what sound is being emitted from the trash can allowing him to know it was there?

Make a noise that will carry. Picture that noise as a sound wave bouncing off of that trash can and returning to you. What if you were able to tune in your ears over time and hear that sound wave? Build the results of several sound waves sent at that trash can and then bounced back at you into a mental image. Imagine after years of practice that you can do this quickly, easily, casually. You'd "see" that trash can... and everything else around you ... including what's behind you.

People like this kid with this skill ... echo location ... can do that.

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