Israeli Scientists Turning sound into sight for the blind

News From Jerusalem:  Israeli brain scientists have developed special devices to activate the visual cortex with data coming in from existing senses.

People born blind can be trained to visualize objects using sensory substitution devices (SSDs) developed by scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada.

SSDs are non-invasive devices that provide visual information to the blind through their existing senses. For example, a visual-to-auditory SSD converts images from a miniature video camera into “soundscapes” that activate the visual cortex of the blind person, who listens through stereo headphones hooked up to a laptop or smartphone.