Originally published September 12 2014
Non-invasive device allows Bin-Bin, the world famous boy left blind from an eye-gouging attack, to 'read' with his tongue
by Antonia
(NaturalNews) Guo Bin, the young boy who became known around the world as Bin-Bin after he was attacked last year in China and lost his eyes, is now able to differentiate between the shapes, sizes and locations of certain objects by essentially reading with his tongue.(1,2) A non-invasive United States-made Brainport device has made this possible and the 7-year-old's doctor is hopeful that with more use of it, he'll be able to vastly improve his visual accuracy and sensitivity.(1)
Remarkably, his ability to see some shapes and sizes occurs when information is translated from a digital camera to the tongue via gentle vibrations sensed from his tongue nerves.(1,3) The brain interprets these vibrations, allowing users to perceive such imagery. The Brainport device uses a tongue sensor and a handheld camera, about the size of a cell phone, to facilitate the entire process.(3)
Brainport device expected to be mastered by young child
"We are confident that, in a few years, Bin-Bin will be able to master the device and allow it to help him with daily life," says Dr. Dennis Lam Shun-chiu.(2)
While it's not entirely clear if the information is transferred to the part of the brain where sight information is typically sent or if it's sent to the area where touch information from the tongue is interpreted, the fact remains that this devices seems to replace the function of the retina.
Wicab is the Wisconsin-based company responsible for developing Brainport.(3)
William Seiple, a research director at a nonprofit vision healthcare and research organization called Lighthouse International, uses the Brainport visual device to train others. He says that he's amazed by it, noting that many are able to locate items with significantly less fumbling and much more confidence.
"One guy started to cry when he saw his first letter," Seiple says.(3)
Technological advancements such as this represent a shift away from otherwise invasive surgeries, as well as costly and questionable medications and instead, demonstrate the power of the human body to heal by working with safe devices that help one to re-learn and better understand the body's senses.
Sources for this article include:
(1) http://video.ap.org
(2) http://www.scmp.com
(3) http://www.scientificamerican.com
About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia
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