From:	Allen Versfeld moe@*******.com
Subject:	Visionary, or crazy?
Date:	Tue, 20 Jun 2000 09:18:44 +0200

Simon and Fiona wrote:
>
>
> My vote is for crazy. I can't see sonar really working on a human, we lack
> the brain functions to interpret the signals in any usable way. But hey,
> more power to him (prbably 12 volts), he's in the papers again. It is good
> to know that with all the quadroplegics, epileptics, diabetics, cancer
> victims, and so on, that this professor is still able to spend time,
> resources and equipment on this.

You sound as if you disapprove, and rightly so. It's disgraceful the
way people spend time and money on pure research, putting probes out in
space, and experimenting with implants, when there are so much more
important things to learn. I suggest that our british batman rather try
and learn how the nervous system works, so that we can build better
prostheses for amputees. Something that could be controlled in a
natural manner, as if it was a real arm. Something that will interface
with the nervous system. Rather than wasting his time on silly projects
that... attempt... to... interface... with.. the... oh.

Sarcasm aside, my point is that while this particular project does sound
farfetched, it's not a waste of time and resources. He's been doing
similar experiments on himself for a long time, controlling machinery
with his nervous impulses. Perhaps he'll never be able to see through
his new sonar eyes, but he is gathering valuable experimental data on
how the human nervous system can be integrated with, or altered by
electronics. And this *does* have value.
--
Allen Versfeld
moe@*******.com

"As a computer, I find your faith in technology to be quite amusing"