Star Trek's Vision-Restoring Visor Closer to Reality, As New Device Lets Blind 'See' With Their Ears

Star Trek's Vision-Restoring Visor Closer to Reality, As New Device Lets Blind 'See' With Their Ears:

'via Blog this'

Talk about seeing the light. Israeli scientists have developed a "sensory substitution device" (SSD) that they say lets congenitally blind people "see" for the first time ever.

The device is reminiscent of the electronic visor worn by Geordi La Forge, the blind engineer in the TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." It features a tiny computerized video camera that transforms light into so-called "soundscapes"--specific tones that the wearer interprets using his/her sense of hearing.

Using the SSD isn't actually seeing. But after a brief training session, wearers are able to identify everyday objects, locate people and their postures, and even read, according to a written statement released by Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where the technology was developed.