Sensory Substitution: When Taste Helps You See and Touch Makes You Hear

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Highlights:

• Technology is getting better at helping us see, hear, and feel things in new and exciting ways
• Some techniques can let people who can't see or hear very well use different ways to experience the world. For example, they can translate pictures into tactile sensations on their tongue
• The integration of technology into human bodies raises ethical questions about accessibility, privacy, and potential misuse

Imagine a world where people use advanced technology to enhance their senses and abilities. They can restore lost senses, like sight or hearing, or even create entirely new ones. It's akin to gaining superpowers by merging with remarkable gadgets.

Neil Harbisson is a special artist who has lived as a cyborg for ten years. He has had achromatopsia, a rare kind of color blindness, since birth. To aid him in "seeing" colors, he devised a metallic antenna.

‘Using technology to improve our senses could help us restore lost senses or even create new ones. #HumanAugmentation #TechEvolution #FutureOfEnhancement’

Doctors put this antenna in his skull, and now he can hear colors as sounds. When the antenna detects a color, it vibrates and sends sound signals through its bones. This shows how technology can do amazing things like helping people sense things differently.

From Aid to Augmentation: The Evolution of Technology and Human Senses

As technology advances, it no longer merely aids sensory perception but seeks to augment and even create entirely new senses. Scientists are doing research to make our senses better. They want to improve the things we can see and hear.

They also aim to unlock new senses that are not naturally present in humans. For instance, there is a person who has a special implant that lets him see colors that regular people can't see. This shows how humans can become part machines, like cyborgs, by using technology to enhance themselves.

One notable development in this area is "sensory substitution," a technique that restores lost senses by using alternative sensory pathways. For example, imagine a special device called the BrainPort V100. The FDA approved it in 2015.

This amazing device helps blind people 'see' things using their tongues. It works by changing what they see into tiny electrical signals that they can feel on their tongue. Other devices, like Eagleman's VEST, enable hearing-impaired individuals to "hear" through touch, adding an entirely new sense to their perception (1^✔).

Beyond substitution, technology has evolved to augment human perception. Initially, the VEST was created to enhance people's sensory experiences.

However, its capabilities have expanded significantly. Now, the VEST goes beyond just altering senses; it enables individuals to perceive information that goes beyond their conventional senses. For instance, users can access social media updates or stock market data, all through touch.

Unlocking the Sixth Sense: Exploring the Frontiers of Human Augmentation

Scientists like Kevin Warwick have been experimenting with special devices called neural implants and microchips.

These devices are implantable inside the human body and can perform certain tasks that our natural body cannot do.

For example, there exists a device known as NorthSense, developed by a company called Cyborg Nest. It helps people sense the Earth's magnetic field and feel a stronger connection to nature. People call this type of technology "human augmentation," and it brings up some important questions about what is right and fair. Some important worries include who can use these devices, how much they cost, and how private our information is.

People worry that without proper protection, these devices could be misused to control or take away others' freedom to make their own choices.

In the past, people mainly created these devices to assist individuals with sensory issues. But now, people are using them to enhance and modify our bodies according to our personal preferences. So, it's essential for countries to collaborate and create fair rules for using these devices responsibly.

Though there are challenges and worries about human augmentation, many believe it can bring good things in the future. If we think carefully about ethics and use technology responsibly, it could make life better for everyone.

Reference:

1. Human Enhancement: The Scientific and Ethical Dimensions of Striving for Perfection - (https:www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/07/26/human-enhancement-the-scientific-and-ethical-dimensions-of-striving-for-perfection/)

Source: Medindia

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