Many people know that dolphins use echolocation to communicate and navigate, but recent evidence has now shown that humans can use echolocation as well. Blind people practice echolocation to navigate through the world. This technique allows blind people to identify their surroundings without actually seeing. Learning how to effectively use echolocation is not easy. It takes a lot of time practicing. Through doing my experiment of actually using echolocation, I was able to understand just how hard echolocation is for humans.Yet, two unique indivuals have learned the technique and use it in their everyday lives, Ben Underwood and Daniel Kish, who are both blind.
Ben Underwood VideoIn addition, I tested and learned the farthest distances I can hear echolocation with different sizes of wood. With the results, it shows that dolphins are not the only ones using echolocation these days.
Overall, it was very interesting to experiment with different sounds, sizes of boards, and distances to hear how humans use echolocation.
The way I experimented this idea that humans can echolocate is through reenacting how a human would use echolocation to navigate. I used three different sized boards 1) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" 1) 5" x 5" 1) 10" x 10". I had my roommate hold each board in front of me outside in the North Quad. She held the boards up individually and slowly walked away from me, while I was blind folded and produced the "sh" sound. I had to decide at what distance I could stop hearing a different sound. I was never able to hear an echo using palate clicks, so I stayed with using the "sh" sound
Small Board: at 9 1/2in
Medium Board: at 33in
Large Board: at 41in
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