Light-Based Hearing: Is it Possible?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of "light-based hearing," exploring whether it is feasible to interpret visual stimuli as audio signals through technological means. Participants suggest that while direct auditory perception through the eyes is unlikely, alternative methods such as using cameras to convert visual data into audio tones or haptic feedback could be more practical. The conversation also touches on the neurological implications, referencing synesthesia as a potential model for how such sensory integration might occur.

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  • Understanding of synesthesia and its neurological basis
  • Familiarity with sensory processing and perception
  • Knowledge of haptic technology and its applications
  • Basic principles of signal conversion in technology
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Individuals interested in neuroscience, technology developers in sensory devices, and researchers exploring the intersections of vision and hearing.

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Ok, I am not even remotely a physicist. However I did have this thought.
Is it possible to hear with your eyes. Can a device be rendered in such a way to transmit light so that when the eyes saw it, that it would be interpreted as Audio not video so to speak.

Just general curiosity!

Any comments are welcome. Even the "Your a moron" kind
Thanks
 
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Zackhood88 said:
Ok, I am not even remotely a physicist. However I did have this thought.
Is it possible to hear with your eyes. Can a device be rendered in such a way to transmit light so that when the eyes saw it, that it would be interpreted as Audio not video so to speak.

Just general curiosity!

Any comments are welcome. Even the "Your a moron" kind
Thanks

Sure. Depends on how much and how intrusively you want to rewire the brain.

A less intrusive thing to do would be to set up cameras that see ahead, then convert that signal into an audio tone - or better yet, a haptic (touch) pattern. The reason touch would be better than hearing is that touch, like sight, is a 2-dimensional plane, whereas hearing is one-dimensional.
 
I might be interpreting your question a bit too literally, but you'd have to give your eyes a serious upgrade before you could see the vibrations in the air.
 
TheOtherDave said:
I might be interpreting your question a bit too literally, but you'd have to give your eyes a serious upgrade before you could see the vibrations in the air.

If you were to take his question literally, you will see that he presumes that what the eyes will be detecting is light ("..transmit light so that when the eyes saw it.."), but that it is only after the light is detected that it is interpreted as audio.
 
DaveC426913 said:
Sure. Depends on how much and how intrusively you want to rewire the brain.
I'm pretty sure the brain would need to be re-wired as in a synesthete.

http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar01/synesthesia.aspx

My oldest daughter sees numbers as colors. My youngest sees geometric shapes in everything.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Years ago a friend of mines mum who works in a drosophila lab produced a lineage where the visual and smell processing was reversed. They saw smells and smelt colours apparently though I have no idea how they did this or how they knew it was done correctly.
 
DaveC426913 said:
If you were to take his question literally, you will see that he presumes that what the eyes will be detecting is light ("..transmit light so that when the eyes saw it.."), but that it is only after the light is detected that it is interpreted as audio.

Hmm... It is possible that I might not have interpreted his question literally enough... :smile:
 

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