Tongue which can see

The title of this article seems a crazy idea. But this is what technology has been doing to our lives: giving advancement we cannot even begin to imagine. In such a recent advancement quoted as one of the path breaking innovation in the last half a decade, a device “Brainport” has been introduced by Wicam and will be sold by the end of this 2009. Research shows that tongue is more sensitive than other skin areas i.e. abdomen, fingertips and back used by other systems. Moreover, the nerve fibres of the tongue are closer to the surface, there are more of them and there is no stratum corneum (an outer layer of dead skin cells) to act as an insulator. So, “Brainport” utilizes this capability of the tongue to see.

“Brainport” collects visual data through a small digital video camera about 2.5cm in diameter, which sits in the middle of a pair of sunglasses worn by the user, could be available for sale later this year. The information is then transmitted to a hand-held control unit, which is about the size of a mobile phone. The unit converts the digital signal into electrical pulses and sends this to the tongue via the lollipop that sits on the tongue.

The lollipop contains a grid of 600 electrodes, which pulsate according to how much light is in that area of the picture. The control unit allows users to zoom in and out and control light settings and electric shock intensity.

According to Robert Beckman, president of US-based Wicab: “It enables blind people to gain perception of their surroundings, displayed on their tongue. They cannot necessarily read a book but they can read a sign.”

The device certainly comes at a price of $ 10000 making a hole in the pockets. But it has the potential use of being a great help in the fields of Military, Navy, Robotic Surgery and Gaming.

On a concluding remark, a research which began in the 60s has proved to be a supportive innovation in the field of communications and reaffirmed our belief in use of technology for effective communication.