21st
March
2001
Blind people may be able to “see” with their tongues
“Scientists have developed a device which transfers visual cues from a video camera to the brain through electrodes in the mouth. A map of the outside world is sent to a postage stamp-sized ‘tongue display unit’ made of 144 electrodes which stimulates the highly sensitive tongue. The device, developed by Paul Bach-y-Rita and Kurt Kaczmarek at the University of Wisconsin, US, has been successful at conveying simple information like computer-generated graphics.”