Feeling Sound

A new device has been developed that translates sounds into tactile vibrations, enabling the wearer to feel sounds. The Fitbit-style wristband – dubbed Buzz – was designed for hearing impaired individuals, but it could be used by anyone to extend their sensory range. That’s because the technology works not only with sound; it can also translate images and other data streams into sensations that are interpreted by the brain, including information that humans cannot detect, such as infrared and ultraviolet light.

The inspiration for Buzz came from studying synesthesia – a condition in which people smell colors in addition to seeing them. The developer saw this simply as an alternative way of perceiving the world, and building on 50 years of brain research in the field of sensory substitution (beginning with the neuroscientist Paul Bach-y-Rita), set out to build devices that exploit the brain’s ability to relearn how to decode the signals it receives.

Experiments on deaf subjects showed that after approximately eight hours of training, they were able to distinguish the feel of 50 different words. In another test, participants were asked to distinguish between a dog barking, a car passing or a door slamming. Eighty percent of them could correctly identify the sounds without any training at all.

Compared to cochlear implants, which cost thousands of dollars and involve invasive surgery, Buzz could provide a much-needed option for the deaf to enhance their ability to sense sound. It is expected to become available by the end of this year at a cost of about $600. A vest version is also in the works, which will incorporate four times as many motors to induce vibrations across the chest and back.