Tasting lightCourtesy ARTiFactor

Tasting the Light

Just as blind people read words by touching braille bumps, some are now able to "see" objects via a special lollipop that stimulates their taste buds. Images from a video camera control which of the 625 low voltage shocker buttons fire on a one inch square lollipop.

This device, which I wrote about more than 3 years ago (Tongue ESP), is now being submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.

Robert Beckman, president and chief executive officer of (Wicab) notes that the device (called Brainport) could be approved for market by the end of 2009 at a cost of about $10,000 per machine.

Learn more about Wicab's Brainport

• Recent publications about Brainport technology
• News articles about seeing with a tongue pad
• Scientific American article
• Washington Post article