In nature, animals like bats, whales and dolphins have been known to posses the ability to echolocate. This unique ability gives these creatures the ability to navigate around their surroundings without colliding with nearby objects, through the use of sound waves.
[image credit](https://pixabay.com/en/ancient-blind-boys-brain-cartoon-2026111/)
These mammals are able to detect nearby objects when the sound waves they send is returned back to them. The time it takes for the reflected sound waves to come back is used to determine the distance of the object. This ability enables them to do amazing things in the dark, like hunting.
Some humans have been known to possess this ability through training and it has enabled them, just like bats and other animals detect incoming objects by making tongue clicks. They make sounds with their tongues and listen to the way it bounces off surrounding objects.
Researchers have been trying to come up with new technologies that can give visually impaired people enhanced sonar capabilities. Technologies like Cameras, lasers and earphones are used in one way or the other to help blind people avoid obstacles.
This article will give you a general overview of echolocation, and educate you on some of the technologies that have been developed in this area.
## What is Echolocation
In animals, echolocation which is also known as bio sonar, gives animals the ability to detect nearby obstacles by emitting calls to the environment and listening as these calls bounces off the surrounding objects and returns back to them. This enables them to move around and hunt, especially in the dark.
Though humans are not known to exhibit this trait naturally, but some people have been able to acquire this skill through practice. People who have been trained in this skill can detect nearby objects by making sounds and sensing echos that come from the objects. This can be done by stomping their foot, clapping or making clicking sounds with the tongue.
[Image showing an MRI scan showing the brain of an echolocation expert to the left and sighted person to the right: image credit - wikipedia creative commons]()
## Technologies that enhance our ability to echolocate
### 1. The smartcane
The smartcane is an ultrasound system which can be fit into the cane as a handle. The smartcane detects obstacles with the use of sonic waves and when it detects an obstacle it vibrates in order to alert the user. It's powered by lithium ion battery and it has been designed to adjust to the various types of grips used by visually impaired people.
This device helps visually impaired people navigate effectively without being assisted. The smart cane allows visually impaired people to detect different types of obstacles like walls, in coming vehicles, e.t.c and in case of system failures users are quickly warned through special alarm signals.
### 2. Tacit
According [Gratio labs](http://grathio.com/2011/08/meet-the-tacit-project-its-sonar-for-the-blind/), Tacit is described as:
> Hand-Mounted Haptic Feedback Sonar Obstacle Avoidance Asstance Device
It is usually worn on the hand and it translates the distance of objects into pressure on the wrist. It ca sense objects up to about 10 feet away and allows visually impaired people to effectively navigate through obstacles.
The pressure felt on the users hand lets them know of an impending obstacle. The pressure usually becomes more as the user approaches an obstacle and it's less when obstacles are far away.
### 3. Eye music
Eye music allows visually impaired people to experience the visual world through music. It produces musical sounds as it scans an image from left to right. Pitch corresponds to height, the higher the image, the higher the pitch that will be sounded.
It represents brightness with amplitude. So the brighter an object the louder it would be. Also, color is represented by different musical instruments .
## Conclusion
Though bats, dolphins and whales have this ability innate in them, humans have been able to use technology to acquire this ability. With technologies like the smartcane, tacit and eye music visually impaired people can now see the world through sound.
There is still ongoing research to bring new technologies and improve on existing technologies so that blind people can efficiently navigate through obstacles just as bats, dolphins and whales can move around about in the dark without collision.
## References
[Human echolocation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation)
[Animal echolocation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_echolocation)
[What is SmartCane ?](http://smartcane.saksham.org/overview/)
[Meet The Tacit Project. It’s Sonar For The Blind](http://grathio.com/2011/08/meet-the-tacit-project-its-sonar-for-the-blind/)
[How scientists are helping blind people see with their ears](https://www.vox.com/2014/11/7/7171119/blind-sonar-echolocation)
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