[humanser] New THOUGHT PROVOKER 143- The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show

[Robert Newman]

Human Services Workers
RE:  The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show

Here is my 143rd THOUGHT PROVOKER. It is a reality show. Fully sighted
contestants agree to forgo their sight and learn blindness skills. There are
challenges, winners and losers. Have a read and tell us what you think; is
there value in this shows concept? If you have not read the PROVOKER, it
follows.  Recall that I collect responses and post them upon my web site for
all the WWW to read and learn from and that URL is-
Http://thoughtprovoker.info <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to
receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-
newmanrl at cox.net 




THOUGHT PROVOKER 143
The Virtual Blindness Challenge:
The Reality Show

"Welcome to The Virtual Blindness Challenge: The Reality Show!  (On screen a
tall dark-haired man stands, long white cane in one hand, cordless
microphone in the other.) This is Final Challenge Day of week four, the
final test. In today's challenge our remaining two students will have their
final faceoff. The one to successfully complete their challenge assignment
first will win the grand prize of $10,000. Will it be Patty Hartman,
twenty-six-years old, a single mother, and unemployed?" (The screen shows a
petit blonde woman with a black sleepshade strapped snuggly over her eyes
and upper face. She stands smiling; a long white cane as tall as she rests
easily at her side.)

The MC steps around to the second student. "Or will it be Simon Brown, 32,
married, a recent veteran of the Iraq War, soon to enter college." (The
screen fills with a well-built young man with a dark, suntanned, skin tone;
standing at military ease, a long white cane as tall as his eyebrows in the
crook of an elbow.  His facial expression below the black of the sleepshade
shows the nonchalance of confidence.)

"But before we show highlights of Patty's and Simon's progress to date,
allow me to set the stage.  Twenty-eight days ago twelve fully sighted
participants began the Virtual Blindness Challenge. All agreed to wear
sleepshades, were given the same tools, and taught the same blindness
skill-sets. Ten have been eliminated. The judging is simple--if you don't
excel, you are cut. This challenge is to find the best."

 "Let us take a quick review of Patty's journey in virtual blindness from
that first day, up to this Final Challenge." 

The first scene: Patty is pulling on her sleepshade, a look on her face that
may have said, "I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but I'm
committed, I doing this!" Second: the first cane travel lesson; a hesitant
step, uncoordinated probing and swinging of the cane. Third: learning
Braille; writing with a Braille slate and stylus; fingers reading a thick
Braille magazine. Fourth: pouring water from a large pitcher into a small
glass; Fifth: frosting a cake. Sixth: threading a needle with a wire-loop
needle threader; using a sewing machine. Seventh: seated at a computer, the
screen showing what she is typing and a synthesized voice enunciating what
she keys in. "Blindness is doable." Eighth: drilling a board with an
electric hand drill.

The MC extends the microphone toward her. "Patty, how are you feeling about
your blindness skills?  Ready for this Final Challenge?"

"You bet, Ross, I'm very ready. Just in the past week my ability to pick-up
on echo location has come in strong and now on travel, I can fly!"

"Now here is Simon's journey in virtual blindness."
 
First scene: Simon, face showing quiet self-confidence slips his sleepshade
down over his eyes. Second: cane held steady in his strong grip, he explores
a staircase. Third: inserting a sheet of paper into a Braille slate; reading
a Braille label on a can of soup. Fourth: checking meat on a hot charcoal
grill. Fifth: threading a self-threading needle; hand-sewing a button onto a
man's shirt. Sixth: keying into a laptop, its screen showing a familiar
logo, and from the speakers we hear, "Google." Seventh: Cutting with a
circular saw; sanding a newly built picnic table.

 "Simon, how are you doing? Up for the final cut; ready to take the grand
prize home?"

"Yes, sir.  That's affirmative.  And Ross, you once compared this challenge
to military boot camp. I would say, yes, in that both are a form of
preparation, of training the mind, and training muscle memory. But the game
is different; war can kill you, blindness will not. Life goes on and you
just use alternative methods to be successful."

The camera focuses on the MC handing each of them a Brailled sheet. "Though
the day has just begun, you two have much to do. Here are your last
challenge instructions. Read your challenge and do your best!  We'll be
waiting here at the finish line with the grand prizes-winner takes all! And
the clock starts now!"

The camera zooms to both contestants, seated, intense faces, fingers reading
their instructions.

The camera follows as both contestants walk down the front steps. Simon
turns right, long strides carrying him swiftly south. Patty turns left,
north, her shorter stride quickening, moving into a trot, cane flashing in
the early morning sun, she begins to run. 



Robert Leslie Newman 
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- 
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info