Introduction
People are used to using one’s eyes as their main source of sensing their surroundings, sometimes with their sense of smell as an auxiliary. However, sometimes it is not possible to use one’s vision effectively, for example, when one is trying to detect something at a significant distance, or when the conditions for viewing are not ideal, or perhaps when one has lost or has never possessed the sense of vision. All of these are situations where the sense of vision would be insufficient to meet one’s needs.
In order to over come these obstacles, humans discovered and alternate way to see the world using sound. Nevertheless, make no mistake; humans were far from the first to use this ‘advanced’ technology.
Echolocation
In 1793, Italian naturalist, Lazzaro Spallanzani found that blinded bats could navigate just as effectively as normal bats. After further research, it was discovered that bats navigate using echolocation, eventually, also known as biosonar. Echolocation is detection using sound waves. While different species of bats have evolved to using different ways of echolocation, the most precise of the species would be the Horseshoe bat. This unique bat generates an ultrasound frequency of 83 kHz using its larynx, and then listens and processes the echoes it hears. These echoes are made by the sound wave that the bat has generated bouncing off of objects in the range of the wave. The bat uses this information to interpret its surroundings.
Other birds and animals that use echolocation to some extent include, but are not limited to, dolphins, toothed whales, Oilbirds, Swiftlets, Shrews and Tenrecs.
It was not long before people realized what advantages this new discovery could mean.
Sound Waves...
... middle of paper ...
.... Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .
"Sonar: Technology Gallery for." Discovery of Sound in the Sea. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. .
"Sound waves." University of Manitoba. Web. 19 Nov. 2009. .
"SpringerLink - Journal Article." SpringerLink Home - Main. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. 26
26.
Launer, Donald. (2009). Navigation through the ages. Sheridan House Inc.
Johnson, Bill. (2009). Essential boat radar. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley.
In severe times such as the six miners missing by the Cave in at the Crandall Canyon coal mine in Utah, sound is an effective way to know the existence of the miners.
Another speaker, Margaret Livingstone delves into the visual aspect of our senses. Livingstone mentions how artists recognize things about vision that neuroscientists are not privy to until years later. Livingstone discussed the differentiation between color and lightness, and how the two contribute differently to a work of art. Color is thought of as “comparing activity” whereas light is thought of as “summing them.” Livingstone indicates that the visual system is subdivided into a ventral system and a dorsal system. The ventral system is responsible for object recognition, face recognition, and color. The dorsal system is responsible for navigating through the environment, special organization, and emotional recognition. The ability for humans to see distance and depth is carried via our colorblind part of our visual system. As a result, Livingstone concludes that one cannot see depth and shading unless the luminance is right to convey three-dimensional.
Blindsight is often understood as supporting certain claims concerning the function and the status of the phenomenal qualities of visual perceptions. In this talk I am going to present a short argument to show that blindsight could not be understood as evidence for these claims. The reason is that blindsight cannot be adequately described as a special case of seeing. Consequently, it is not possible to draw inferences from it concerning the role of the phenomenal qualities for seeing.
Ultrasounds use the same concepts that allow sonar on boats to see the bottom of the o...
In the lab, the researches were able to recreate sound similar to that of elephants’ infrasonic calls in the lowest-pitched vibration. However, they were not able to capture all of the complexities of a real elephant call. Although the research does not completely explain how elephants are capable of their calls, it suggests that the mechanism is similar to a person speaking or singing (Milius, 2012).
Perception plays a huge role in someone’s life. “When a distinction is made between sensation and perception, sensation is frequently identified as involving simple “elementary” processes that occur right at the beginning of a sensory system, as when light stimulates receptors in the eye. In contrast, perception is identified with complicated processes that involves higher-order mechanisms such as understanding and memory that involve activity in the brain” (Goldstein, 1980, p. 7). It is simply the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the five senses. Perception aids us to navigate through the world, avoid danger, make decisions, and prepare for action.
Hackmann, Willem Dirk. “SONAR.” Encyclopedia of World War II. Vol. 2. New York: Facts on File, 2007. Modern World History Online. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. .
Light and sound are similar in some ways too, though. They both have frequencies that humans cannot detect (ultraviolet, infrasonic, etc.). Since both of them are also waves, they can be made to interfere. They can also be made to reflect and refract.
We use our ears for the hearing sense, and we use our eyes for vision.
David, Edward E. Jr., John K. Pierce, and William A. Van Bergeijk. Waves, and the Ear. NY: Anchor Books. 1960. p- 34-50
Visual perception plays a big part on how we perceive life. If we didn't have perception I don't know where we would be now.
An acoustic wave can simply be described as a longitudinal wave. A longitudinal wave is a wave that vibrates and moves in the direction of its propagation. This means the medium is either in the same or opposite direction of the way the wave travels. Acoustic waves are a form of Mechanical longitudinal waves; these waves are otherwise known as compression waves or compressional waves. Compressional waves obviously produce compression, decompression, and rarefaction to travel.
What distinguishes sound waves from most other waves is that humans easily can perceive the frequency and amplitude of the wave. The frequency governs the pitch of the note produced, while the amplitude relates to the sound le...