Discovering Daredevil: The Real-Life Cases of Radar-Like Senses

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of radar-like senses in individuals who are blind, inspired by the character Daredevil from the Netflix series. Participants explore the potential for humans to develop heightened sensory abilities, particularly through sound, and inquire about documented cases of such abilities. The scope includes theoretical considerations, anecdotal evidence, and speculative applications of auditory perception.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention a blind boy who uses echolocation by whistling while riding a bike, suggesting this ability is learnable with practice.
  • Others express skepticism about the validity of claims regarding individuals who can feel colors through touch, labeling it as "almost certainly false."
  • There are inquiries about the resolution of sound adaptation in blind individuals, questioning whether it is sufficient for tasks like avoiding traffic or engaging in physical confrontations.
  • Some participants argue that the auditory system is not capable of providing the same resolution as vision, citing anatomical and functional limitations of human hearing.
  • Speculation arises about the potential for technology, such as gadgets with parabolic receivers, to enhance auditory mapping of surroundings, though questions remain about the necessary sound intensity for effective resolution.
  • References to the Daredevil character highlight the fictional nature of his abilities, with discussions on the plausibility of similar capabilities in the real world.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the feasibility of radar-like senses. While some acknowledge anecdotal cases of echolocation, others challenge the extent and accuracy of such abilities, leading to an unresolved discussion on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of consensus on the validity of anecdotal evidence, the dependence on individual experiences, and unresolved questions about the capabilities of the auditory system compared to visual perception.

  • #31
Regarding human echo location, there was a scifi tale about a society who had to live underground after a disaster(nuke war) and tale depicted them evovling to use "clickstones" which they used to "click" together(one handed) and find their way around in dark tunnels. Eventually the hero found his way out into the light and all was good. Can't imagine what a communal gathering would have "sounded " like. Don't know how they distinguished one click from another.
 
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  • #32
profbuxton said:
Can't imagine what a communal gathering would have "sounded " like. Don't know how they distinguished one click from another.
I don't think that would be nearly as hard as you expect.

It might seem like a jumble to the untrained ear, but
1] every pair of rocks will be different sizes, and your clicks will have a unique signature,
2] you're expecting your clicks, they will be an immediate extension of your own click: Like Click-ick-ck-k.
3] I don't imagine they are clicking every second. Perfect overlaps would not be as common as all that.
4] if you're in a communal setting, you don't need to check for obstructions much. You'll know where other people are, and they won't be inside walls.
 

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