[Blindtlk] Introduction and Devices

[Randi Sanfilippo]

Randi Sanfilippo: I  am participating in the safety and research study of
the Brainport project here in New York City. Although I  wasn't blind when
the optican was new and popular some of my friends in the study still use
them and it made it easier for them to grasp the idea of the Brainport since
it's getting the tactile feedback is from the feedback from what you feel
and not from what you are trying to see if you were sighted in the past. The
pixels give you the shape and you feel the image and determine what the
object is. It doesn't take long to get it but you first have to turn off the
idea of trying to see it. Right now for the U.S. FDA it has about 400 pixels
that you feel to get the item you are seeing. After the second day of
training about 3  hours I  could follow my researcher out of the building
see the shapes of file cabinets, read letters on the wall, follow traffic
patterns, find objects, and do this without the use of a  cane. While it
isn't a  replacement for a cane because it depends on contrast and lighting
it was a  thrilling experience after not seeing for over 16 years. I  will
have the device for 1  year total but it will be sold in Europe soon since
they don't have so many restrictions. There are improvements already but
they won't change them until FDA approves it as it is. The optican users had
an  easy transition as compared to the people who never saw in their life.