well, you got a bit wrong, it does not creat images by pins or some tectile displays, it sends electricle impulses through 4-pins device lying on your tongue via low-voltage electricity.
a blind woman sits in a chair holding a video camera focused on a scientist sitting in front of her. She has a device in her mouth, touching her tongue, and there are wires running from that device to the video camera. The woman has been blind since birth and doesn't really know what a rubber ball looks like, but the scientist is holding one. And when he suddenly rolls it in her direction, she puts out a hand to stop it. The blind woman saw the ball. Through her tongue. Well, not exactly through her tongue, but the device in her mouth sent visual input through her tongue in much the same way that seeing individuals receive visual input through the eyes. In both cases, the initial sensory input mechanism -- the tongue or the eyes -- sends the visual data to the brain, where that data is processed and interpreted to form images. What we're talking about here is electrotactile stimulation for sensory augmentation or substitution, an area of study that involves using encoded electric current to represent sensory information -- information that a person cannot receive through the traditional channel -- and applying that current to the skin, which sends the information to the brain. The brain then learns to interpret that sensory information as if it were being sent through the traditional channel for such data. In the 1960s and '70s, this process was the subject of ground-breaking research in sensory substitution at the Smith-Kettlewell Institute led by Paul Bach-y-Rita, MD, Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Now it's the basis for Wicab's BrainPort technology (Dr. Bach-y-Rita is also Chief Scientist and Chairman of the Board of Wicab). sourse: http://www.howstuffworks.com/brainport.htm On 11/6/13, Shireen Irani <[email protected]> wrote: > ok ok now i get the confusion. if lighting up the visual cortex is > what they r calling as seeing, then u might b aware, that even as > blind people we can b extremely visual individuals. meaning that even > when we hear something being read out, or some visual immage being > described, it has been observed that the visual area of the brain does > light up and trigger some activity. so in that sense, sure. it is > getting activated. > so this is what they r calling as seeing, because it is outside the > body, and the tactile impulses r creating the same kind of vivid > immagination. > so that is what must b happening. > > an excelant way to really test out whether 1 is really 'seeing' or > not, is to show some1 an object that 1 has never ever seen before, and > has no idea of what it looks like. it can b as simple as some > character in some other script or alphabet. in such a case, the blind > person has no way of making a mental picture of the actuall immediate > object in view. so such a situation will actually b able to tell us > how much 1 is realy 'seeing' based on his discription of the object. > does that make sense?? > > On 11/6/13, Yogesh Chhabra <[email protected]> wrote: >> To produce tactile vision, BrainPort uses a camera to capture visual >> data. The optical information -- light that would normally hit the >> retina -- that the camera picks up is in digital form, and it uses >> radio signals to send the ones and zeroes to the CPU for encoding. >> Each set of pixels in the camera's light sensor corresponds to an >> electrode in the array. The CPU runs a program that turns the camera's >> electrical information into a spatially encoded signal. The encoded >> signal represents differences in pixel data as differences in pulse >> characteristics such as frequency, amplitude and duration. >> Multidimensional image information takes the form of variances in >> pulse current or voltage, pulse duration, intervals between pulses and >> the number of pulses in a burst, among other parameters. According to >> U.S. Patent 6,430,450, licensed to Wicab for the BrainPort >> application: >> >> To the extent that a trained user may simultaneously distinguish >> between multiple of these characteristics of amplitude, width and >> frequency, the pulses may convey multidimensional information in much >> the same way that the eye perceives color from the independent >> stimulation of different color receptors. >> The electrode array receives the resulting signal via the stimulation >> circuitry and applies it to the tongue. The brain eventually learns to >> interpret and use the information coming from the tongue as if it were >> coming from the eyes. >> >> After training in laboratory tests, blind subjects were able to >> perceive visual traits like looming, depth, perspective, size and >> shape. The subjects could still feel the pulses on their tongue, but >> they could also perceive images generated from those pulses by their >> brain. The subjects perceived the objects as "out there" in front of >> them, separate from their own bodies. They could perceive and identify >> letters of the alphabet. In one case, when blind mountain climber Erik >> Weihenmayer was testing out the device, he was able to locate his wife >> in a forest. One of the most common questions at this point is, "Are >> they really seeing?" That all depends on how you define vision. If >> seeing means you can identify the letter "T" somewhere outside >> yourself, sense when that "T" is getting larger, smaller, changing >> orientation or moving farther away from your own body, then they're >> really seeing. One study that conducted PET brain scans of >> congenitally blind people while they were using the BrainPort vision >> device found that after several sessions with BrainPort, the vision >> centers of the subjects' brains lit up when visual information was >> sent to the brain through the tongue. If "seeing" means there's >> activity in the vision center of the cerebral cortex, then the blind >> subjects are really seeing. >> the bbc news of that mountain climer using brain port: >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13358608 >> >> >> >> On 11/6/13, Shireen Irani <[email protected]> wrote: >>> hmmm. quite fascinating. thanx for sharing this info. of course >>> actuall understanding will only come with real time experience. >>> if they're saying it works with most forms of visual impairment, then >>> its surely something to look forward to. >>> thank u both. >>> >>> On 11/6/13, Yogesh Chhabra <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> The BrainPort V100 vision device consists of a base unit, a digital >>>> video camera, and a postage-stamp-sized (3 cm by 3 cm) electrode array >>>> -- worn in the mouth like a retainer -- placed on the top surface of >>>> the tongue. >>>> >>>> The video camera collects visual information in the form of white, >>>> black, and gray pixels. A processor in the base unit translates the >>>> data into patterns of gentle electrical impulses that it sends to >>>> electrode array on the tongue. >>>> >>>> Strong vibrations represent white pixels, medium-strength represent >>>> gray, and no vibrations represent black pixels. Newer models have 400 >>>> to 600 electrodes and deliver data at approximately 30 frames per >>>> second for an information-rich image stream. >>>> >>>> Neuroscientist Dr. Paul Bach-y-Rita pioneered the concept of "sensory >>>> substitution," BrainPort's underlying principal, in the late 1960s. >>>> >>>> Since it is the brain, and not the eye, that processes vision, >>>> Bach-y-Rita proposed that visual perception (i.e. the electrical >>>> impulses the brain interprets) could be delivered through a secondary >>>> sense such as touch. >>>> >>>> BrainPort sends electrical impulses to the brain through nerves in the >>>> tongue rather than the optic nerve. >>>> >>>> sourse: >>>> http://assistivetechnology.about.com/od/ATCAT1/p/Brainport-V100-Vision-Device-Enables-Blind-To-See-Using-Their-Tongue.htm >>>> >>>> On 11/6/13, Shireen Irani <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> oh really??? ok. i didn't know this. >>>>> i thought they r tactile signals like some vibration or something on >>>>> the tung. because that's what they have written. that its tactile. >>>>> but then how does this become possible?? if the impulse is sent to the >>>>> visual cortex, then again the optic nerve must be part of the >>>>> comunication process. so dont know how that would work if the nerve is >>>>> dead. because whatever path the impulse takes from the tung, it must, >>>>> at some point, engage certain visual apparatus which ultimately helps >>>>> the eyes actually see. >>>>> so dont really understand the mechanism in that case. >>>>> but i shall surely read up about this. because if that is true, then >>>>> its damn fascinating. >>>>> thanx. >>>>> >>>>> On 11/6/13, Yogesh Chhabra <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> In brain port scenario, a camera picks up the image of the >>>>>> surrounding, the information is processed by a chip which converts it >>>>>> into impulses which are sent through an electrode array, via the >>>>>> tongue, to the person's brain. The human brain is able to interpret >>>>>> these impulses as visual signals and they are then redirected to the >>>>>> visual cortex, allowing the person to "see." In other words, a person >>>>>> can see exactly as it is in real. now, the question is, how far a >>>>>> person can see? well, a powerful camera can (magnifying) glass can >>>>>> send a very far sited area also as an impulse through this brain port >>>>>> device. >>>>>> >>>>>> On 11/6/13, Shireen Irani <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> while seeing with sound only provides auditory impulses, this >>>>>>> brainport seems to use tactile electromagnetic means to pass on >>>>>>> information. >>>>>>> so in that sense, the sensory devices seem to use a brauder range of >>>>>>> sensory input, other than just sound. so i guess that is the only >>>>>>> difference. but in any case, they both use the same mechanism of >>>>>>> intensity increse/ decrese, based on the distence between u and the >>>>>>> object. whether its sound, touch, or whatever else. >>>>>>> experienced users, please correct me if i'm wrong. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 11/6/13, Asudani, Rajesh <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> I think it has been shared, but I found this now, so sharing: >>>>>>>> Wicab Press Release 3-19-2013.pdf >>>>>>>> BrainPort Technologies Logo >>>>>>>> Wicab Announces European Market Approval for its >>>>>>>> Non-Invasive Assistive Aid for the Blind >>>>>>>> Photo of woman wearing the BrainPort V100 device. >>>>>>>> Middleton, WI, March 19, 2013- Wicab, Inc. >>>>>>>> announced today that the BrainPort(r) V100 device >>>>>>>> has been approved for sale in the European >>>>>>>> Economic Area. The BrainPort V100 is a non-surgical, >>>>>>>> non-invasive assistive aid which translates visual >>>>>>>> images of the user's environment into electro-tactile >>>>>>>> signals displayed on the user's tongue. With >>>>>>>> supervised training, users learn to interpret the >>>>>>>> electro-tactile signals to perceive shape, size, >>>>>>>> location, and motion of surrounding objects. The >>>>>>>> BrainPort V100 is intended for use as an electronic >>>>>>>> assistive device for individuals who are profoundly >>>>>>>> blind (light perception or no light perception). It is >>>>>>>> specifically indicated for use as an aid in orientation, >>>>>>>> mobility, object recognition, and spot reading. The device is >>>>>>>> limited >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> investigational use in the >>>>>>>> United States. >>>>>>>> Robert Beckman, Wicab CEO, indicated the BrainPort V100 will >>>>>>>> initially >>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>> available in Germany, >>>>>>>> the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Italy. The company plans to >>>>>>>> establish >>>>>>>> a >>>>>>>> demonstration program >>>>>>>> so that prospective customers can try the device for up to several >>>>>>>> days >>>>>>>> at >>>>>>>> a >>>>>>>> nominal cost, with no >>>>>>>> obligation to purchase the device. Wicab is simultaneously seeking >>>>>>>> philanthropic partners to help >>>>>>>> make this technology available to potential users that otherwise >>>>>>>> cannot >>>>>>>> afford to purchase the >>>>>>>> device. >>>>>>>> "After over 15 years of research at Wicab, we are very excited to >>>>>>>> be >>>>>>>> able >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> introduce the >>>>>>>> BrainPort V100 to the general public in the European Economic >>>>>>>> Area," >>>>>>>> stated >>>>>>>> Mr. Beckman. The >>>>>>>> technology behind the BrainPort V100 was first developed by the >>>>>>>> late >>>>>>>> Dr. >>>>>>>> Paul Bach-y-Rita, >>>>>>>> Wicab's co-founder and former University of Wisconsin-Madison >>>>>>>> professor, >>>>>>>> who >>>>>>>> is widely known >>>>>>>> for his work related to brain plasticity and sensory substitution. >>>>>>>> "Potential advantages of the >>>>>>>> BrainPort V100 are that it can be used regardless of the cause or >>>>>>>> duration >>>>>>>> of blindness, and does >>>>>>>> not require an intact optic nerve in order to function," explains >>>>>>>> Mr. >>>>>>>> Beckman, "Individuals blinded >>>>>>>> by congenital and acquired causes may use the BrainPort V100". >>>>>>>> According to Mr. Beckman, "another potential advantage is its >>>>>>>> simplicity. >>>>>>>> Our non-surgical solution >>>>>>>> allows users to save their eyes, in case future developments in >>>>>>>> stem >>>>>>>> cell >>>>>>>> research offer better >>>>>>>> alternatives for people who are totally blind." >>>>>>>> Additional information related to Wicab, Inc. and the BrainPort >>>>>>>> V100 >>>>>>>> device >>>>>>>> can be found on the >>>>>>>> company website, www.wicab.com. Any specific questions related to >>>>>>>> sales >>>>>>>> or >>>>>>>> distribution of the >>>>>>>> device should be directed via email to >>>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>>> . >>>>>>>> Wicab, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based medical device company dedicated >>>>>>>> to >>>>>>>> providing innovative >>>>>>>> assistive devices for the blind based on sensory substitution >>>>>>>> technology >>>>>>>> originally developed by Dr. >>>>>>>> Paul Bach-y-Rita at the University of Wisconsin. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> With thanks and regards >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> (Rajesh Asudani) >>>>>>>> Assistant General Manager >>>>>>>> Reserve Bank of India >>>>>>>> Nagpur >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> (In youth you want things, and then in middle-age you want to want >>>>>>>> them.) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> ________________________________ >>>>>>>> Caution: The Reserve Bank of India never sends mails, smses or >>>>>>>> makes >>>>>>>> calls >>>>>>>> asking for personal information like your bank account details, >>>>>>>> passwords, >>>>>>>> etc. It never keeps or offers funds to anyone. 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AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
