Helping the blind to ‘see’

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 1

Helping the blind to ‘see’

Professor Leslie Kay, of the University of Canterbury, has made an improved version of the ultra-sonic spectacles for blind people which he pioneered in 1968. The devices enable blind people to “see” their surroundings using sonar echoes, like bats.

Professor Kay has had a $36,000 grant from the Telethon Trust to train children at the Homai College for the Blind, Auckland, with the new device. Its predecessor attracted world attention and is now in commercial production in Christchurch. Although that device enables blind people to identify different objects, detect obstacles and move about more confidently, Professor Kay said that the new device had greater potential.

It gave a clearer sound “picture” that couldopen a new world for blind children. . In trials they could play physical games usually impossible for blind children. After lessons they could also count with the device? Such abilities * improved their motivation and could help them overcome learning problems, he said. The device, called a “trisensor,” consists of a headband and small electronic box. ;; • t j A transmitter in the headband sends out ultra-sound ahead of the wearer. The sound rebounds off objects to the tri-sensor’s receivers, and the wearer hears

a sound pattern through earplugs. The wearer can hear other sounds without interference from the sound pattern. By learning the sound pattern the wearer can tell the direction of objects,’how far away they are, and whether they are moving.

Using the old device, adults found that they could distinguish between trees with and without leaves. Professor Kay said that the new version gave even greater detail. Its sound pattern contained more information than most adults could.learn to interpret, but children might be able to use it to its limits. If a blind child wore the tri-sensor for ■ long periods from birth, the device could fill the gap in the child’s perception.

It might know the world ... through sound instead of light, and not suffer badly from the handicaps .that made blind children lag be- - hind the sighted. : J • , Psychologists at . the University of California-are using blind monkeys to test whether extensive use from birth is safe..' 77 Professor Kay said that if it was, babies - would be ■ tested?. The tri-sensor is also being ; used by psychologists at Boston College and Queen’s Uni- • versify.; I If it proves successful the s' - tri-sensor ■ could be made i commercially. ; Professor Kay’s research ; has produced other devices

being assessed for commercial manufacture. These include a portable ultrasonic

heart monitor, a fishing sonar, and a powerful sonar for seabed exploration.