Blinded Soldier Now Able To 'See' With His Tongue

A British soldier blinded by a grenade in Iraq has described how his life has been transformed by ground-breaking technology that enables him to 'see' with his tongue. Lance Corporal Craig Lundberg from Liverpool can read words, identify shapes and walk unaided thanks to the BrainPort device, despite being totally blind.

The BrainPort converts visual images into a series of electrical pulses which are sent to the tongue. The different strength of the tingles can be read or interpreted so the user can mentally visualise their surroundings and navigate around objects.
LINK: The Presurfer

Skiing Blind

The final day of the Winter Olympics this Sunday has only two events: the gold medal men’s hockey game and the 50km cross-country skiing race. Brian McKeever will be skiing for Canada. This race will make him the first Olympian ever to participate in both the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in the same year. McKeever is legally blind.

In 1998, McKeever was a promising 19-year-old skier when he was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a type of juvenile macular degeneration that gradually leads to blindness. Twelve years later, McKeever only has 10 percent of his vision, and that tiny fraction is in his peripheral vision.

Rather than rolling over when he lost his sight, though, McKeever got back on his skis.

Read about how McKeever does it at mental_floss. Link, Via: Neatorama

Seven-year-old blind boy 'uses echoes to see'

Blind Lucas Murray has been nicknamed Batboy - after learning to "see" using his ears. The seven-year-old is believed to be the first in Britain to use echoes to visualise his surroundings.

He clicks his tongue on the roof of his mouth and discovers where objects are based on how the sound bounces back. The amazing technique allows him to run around his playground, play basketball and even go rock climbing.

Lucas, who was born blind, said: "I really like the clicking system but it was quite hard to learn. "I love basketball. I can use my click to find out where the hoop is myself and throw the ball through."

He was taught by blind Californian Daniel Kish, 41, who founded the World Access for the Blind charity.

LINK to a video. Via: Nothing To Do With Arbroath

EyeBorg

Two dudes attempt to make history by embedding a wireless video camera into a prosthetic eye. And that's the story of how being blind in one eye made someone even cooler. LINK

"STATEMENT" ON REALITY

Listening to the 3/9/09 Mischke Show and he commented about the blind. And my co-blogger "Arbyn" commented the Blind Leading the Blind. I came back with, then you have people that can see but blind to reality. To me it makes the blind seem more connected to feelings then the sighted.

Misckes talks make you think a lot in areas that you wouldn't think of reaching in your lifetime, or may have never even entered your thoughts in detail.

You should listen to Mischke, he is either someone that will enter your life and if not lifes search is elsewhere. LINK: www.citypages.com/mischke

By Request- A Blind Pinot Noir Tasting - Episode #624

Gary Vaynerchuk fulfills a viewer request and tastes 5 Pinot Noir wines blind. LINK

Yoo Ye Eun - Blind Piano Prodigy

Five-year-old South Korean Yoo Ye Eun has been blind since birth but can play songs on the piano after listening to the tune just once. She is far from perfect, as she has never had a lesson, but her performance and personality touched everyone during the broadcast. LINK, Via: Youtube