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Blind Kid Uses Echo Location to Play Video Games and More.

youtube.com — He wasn't born blind either, which is what makes it even more impressive.

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  • po2mu, on 03/28/2008, -2/+49Somewhat old
    But this kid is incredible
    • sukmydigg, on 03/28/2008, -1/+6Yeah, I tried to see if it was ever submitted to Digg but found nothing. Indeed old...but incredible for sure.
      • blorguehad, on 03/28/2008, -16/+4as unlce ruckus would say, "The darkies are evolving"
        • chronichyjinx, on 03/28/2008, -2/+2Inbred eh?
          • blorguehad, on 03/29/2008, -1/+1never seen the boondocks? u fail at life.
          • chronichyjinx, on 03/31/2008, -0/+1Oxy-moron.... I have a life.... Probably why I don't know wtf your talking about.
      • TheWeez, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2You didn't find anything because it's so old that it's no longer in the database. As a general rule, if the video has more then 1000 views and is more then a week old, it's already been submitted and you don't need to bother.
    • Dokument, on 03/28/2008, -1/+33wait. echo location to play video games?... "pop" theres the tv "pop" theres the tv "pop" tv is still right there...
      • davidrools, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5he's good at every game except guitar hero for wii...mono sound kills the spatial awareness lol
    • consoneo, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4There's a newer documentary here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLziFMF4DHA&feature ...

      It has the link to all 5 parts.
      • defrex, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2I was almost certain this was a rickroll...
  • Dacvak, on 03/28/2008, -15/+4Wasn't this Dugg a long time ago?
  • jgambleii, on 03/28/2008, -12/+28It was cool the first three times I saw it on the front page.
    • exomni, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2Meh, plenty of stuff gets front pages multiple times, but if any one story deserves it, it's this one.

      Though I'd rather have the follow-up story, now that the kid has grown up.
  • brownsnake12, on 03/28/2008, -11/+2how many times are we going to see this hit the front page, hows about someone make this into a sticky.......

  • trav12221, on 03/28/2008, -1/+52He should be a ninja imo.
  • charlief, on 03/28/2008, -7/+8This story is so 2007
  • ApolloXLII, on 03/28/2008, -0/+61i watched a full documentary on this kid not too long ago. watching him identify objects and where they are on a table purely through echo location is absolutely incredible. kind of makes me feel stupid when i repeatedly stub my toe on my night stand.
  • shoover, on 03/28/2008, -2/+32He doesn't use echolocation to play videogames, he just listens to visual cues from the games and responds to them. Some games this would work well for and some it wouldn't.
    Echolocation refers to reflection of sound, it isn't like he can make a clicking noise in his living room and use it to figure out how far the hooker is from him in GTA...

    And yea, this is really old.
    • ApolloXLII, on 03/28/2008, -2/+7The More You Know!
      seriously though... thanks, captain obvious.
      • etsboy1, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2I was just about to say the same thing.
      • cjsedwards, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2If it is so obvious, then why have 636 people dugg the story when the title is so inaccurate?
    • thebza451, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4wouldn't he listen to audio cues and not see visual cues?
    • yfguitarist, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2Why use video games in the title? Rollerblading is more dangerous. I've also seen a blind kid skateboard.
      • Myonosken, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Yeah, but you don't count it when the kid falls off.
  • DeskFlyer, on 03/28/2008, -1/+5Pretty old...still cool i guess. http://digg.com/people/Amazing_blind_kid_can_do_th ...
    • BoKnowsDigg, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4There've been a lot of new readers at Digg since that post...
  • poohat1000, on 03/28/2008, -10/+5WELCOME TO LAST YEAR
  • sny1120, on 03/28/2008, -4/+16Added: September 24, 2006
  • Harabeck, on 03/28/2008, -1/+4I still dont see how he could play video games. Theyre just not programmed to have all the neccessary details be displayed via sound. I bet its only certain ones and even then, only certain modes of multiplayer.
    • Treshnell, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3Well, yeah. Probably mostly fighting games. He wouldn't be able to play so well in a shooter or RPG. At least, not without more audio/physical cues. It would be interesting to see an RPG like Final Fantasy created with additions for blind players.
  • BongoShack, on 03/28/2008, -12/+3I was amazed, until I learned he was black.
    They can do anything.
    • blagoaw, on 03/28/2008, -2/+0People are using that excuse for blacks now too? First people from cold war countries, then japanese, then asians in general, then this..
      (well, the asian thing was possibly your joke.. sorry for explaining and ruining it..)
      • Myonosken, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Look, unless you want Ho Chi Min on your arse, stick to the story that asians can do everything OK?
  • peregrine, on 03/28/2008, -7/+1This crap the only way you can use ecolocation if there is an actual 3d object for the sound waves to bounce off of. How can this kid play video games that are on a 2D screen? How come nobody asks this question?
    This is bunk NO WAY he can play video games with ecolocation, or even sound alone.
    • breakfast, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2did you watch the video/read the comments/realize your on digg and 70% of titles are misleading? No? Please continue trolling elsewhere.
      • peregrine, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1Yea I saw this video when it was on the digg the last time and asked the same question? I also saw it on the ellen degeneras show. Hey look more people are asking the same questions, I guess I'm a troll.
    • etsboy1, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1he uses the sound cues mate, its pretty obvious.
      when your blind your other senses become heightened. so he'd be able to pick out the different sounds wouldn't he.
  • OfF3nSiV3, on 03/28/2008, -2/+2but how does he do it?
    does he have natural echo hearing or some prothesis?
    • Dokument, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4probably natural echo hearing. like the rest of humans.
  • Samo89, on 03/28/2008, -0/+23daredevil anyone?
  • Clobbersaurus, on 03/28/2008, -10/+2He's faking. It's a scam.
    • oldmanr, on 03/28/2008, -4/+2heck ya, publicity to pay for the house in that part of town.
  • britblogger, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3his story reminds me of little Barty Lampion, the boy who has his own eyes removed, in the Dean Koontz book "From The Corner of His Eye". gave me chills just to see how remarkably well this amazing kid Ben Underwood manages without the power of sight. Amazing. Inspirational. Thanks for the story.
  • Afronick, on 03/28/2008, -0/+9Daredevil's younger years...
    • nallelcm, on 03/28/2008, -2/+3daredevil wasn't black... he looked like ben afflick
  • tmacfan123, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7this kid is unbelievable...a true inspiration for people with disabilities.
  • miqal, on 03/28/2008, -0/+7I love digg reruns!
    • csl110, on 03/28/2008, -0/+0Digg Greatest Hits!
    • bytor4232, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1I don't mind reruns, I didn't catch this when it first aired!
      If a story's good enough, let em play again.
  • captaindoobers, on 03/28/2008, -0/+11his mom was named after a hairspray
  • republicker, on 03/28/2008, -4/+18His moms name is Aquanetta lmaolmaolmaolmao
    • Stupidumb, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6"What are you going to name your child?"
      "I don't ***** care"
  • fenixxx, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Think he could play a videogame with mono (as opposed to stereo) sound? Sorry to say but the whole videogame thing doesn't seen possible.
  • SebHughes, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2This kid was on Wetten Dass (German TV Show) not to alone ago, and it was amazing what he was able to do.
  • headzoo, on 03/28/2008, -6/+14How does someone use echo location to play video games?
    *click* (Yep.. the TV is still there) *click* (Yep.. TV is still right in front of me) *click*
  • Teh1337Pirate, on 03/28/2008, -3/+2OLD!!!!
  • peeinian, on 03/28/2008, -1/+9Dugg for the mom's name, Aquanette. That is ***** gold!
  • adidos, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Longer, more detailed story about the kid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1QaCeosUmw
    (No Rick Roll)
  • capseaslug, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Documentary on him.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLziFMF4DHA&feature ...
  • UtopiaInTheSky, on 03/28/2008, -4/+1September, 2006.
    Seriously guys...
  • serif69, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1Listen fatty, I told you once: you can either hold it, or you can just PEE in that wetsuit!
  • TheZorch, on 03/28/2008, -4/+5This kid isn't alone. I am Legally Blind, a Legalese term meaning my vision is below the 20/200 mark required to be legally considered as Disabled. I grew up around people who were either completely blind, could only see dark and light shapes, or couldn't see without aid of very thick glasses and powerful magnifiers. Finding your way using sound is nothing new, I saw people doing it all of my life. People with no vision or very bad vision have enhanced senses, its no Urban Legend, and they could easily tell when I was near either because of my scent, the way I walked or the way I breathed. I've also known people who can read Braille (raised print for the blind) faster than a sighted person can read regular print. So, no this kid isn't surprising at all.
    • rhino_rampant, on 03/28/2008, -3/+4Did you hear me digg you down?
    • danisth, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3echo location and using cues from different senses is completely different. This guy is creating the sound and listening to the environments response.
    • ArachnidDude, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2The kids eyes were *removed*. That ain't 'legally blind'. It's 'totally ***** eyeless blind'. I doubt you knew anyone who could tell the difference between a trash can and a car using echo location. Try a little harder to be impressed.
  • ZeroQuest, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4Just as cool as it was 2 years ago.
  • oldmanr, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2can he hear the echo of me pulling the trip wire
  • zmigliozzi, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1He really is a great example of perseverance paying off.
    • aladrin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Perseverance? Noo... it wasn't like he worked at this for years before he got it. I would bet he doesn't remember learning it. It's something he's 'always had' as far as he's concerned.

      If you want this to be inspirational, try 'never letting people tell him he can't' or some such.
  • WraTH017, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1*****
  • douchewag, on 03/28/2008, -2/+3Simply amazing guy,since the submitter is girl digg nerds dugg this article again.
    • moonguidex, on 03/28/2008, -0/+4A girl on Digg? You must be sleep deprived...
  • ryrysofly, on 03/28/2008, -6/+1wow, i think this video is older than the invention of the word "blind" itself, thanks guys, i'm gonna go stare into the sun for day on end now....
  • WraTH017, on 03/28/2008, -2/+1Let's see him do well at tetris, and then I'll believe he's doing more than just button mashing.
  • dsenman, on 03/28/2008, -1/+7Thanks to the first 15 people that pointed out this is a cool video. Maybe not everyone has been Digg addicts for 2 years straight? Still a very cool video.
    • dsenman, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1meant to say "pointed out this is an old video". Gotta lay off the sauce - starting the weekend early.
  • markcoollittle, on 03/28/2008, -0/+0DOLPHIN BOY
  • santaliqueur, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Tommy?
  • diggB, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6Amazing. That clicking sound that you're hearing as he's walking around is the acoustic transmit signal he's sending out (using his voice or tongue?). Somehow, his brain has trained itself to detect the echos off of whatever object (trash can, fire hydrant) and measure how far in range the object is by estimating the time delay between transmitting and receiving the signal. (Sound travels roughly at 300 m/s, so the time delay between transmit and receive is on the order of a few milliseconds.) Think about it. Also, his brain is processing the signal to measure the time difference in echo arrival between his left ear and right ear to determine directionality. Moreover, it looks like he can even discriminate between different object types (such as trash cans and cars) just by the listening to changes in the received echo. If I didn't see it, I would've thought this this was beyond what human hearing was capable of.
  • Vegabondsx, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1Ben is amazing. I wish I could take advantage of my other senses the way he could.
  • danisth, on 03/28/2008, -0/+3This is very interesting to me as I've grown up with a blind sister. I know it isn't a myth that blind people can have heightened senses as my sister has perfect pitch but the idea of echo location seemed far fetched to me. Anyways was skeptical till I found this article on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_echolocation
    • StopPre, on 03/28/2008, -0/+0this isn't a knock, cause i do it too, but i love how wikipedia legitmizes something
  • Talphin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+6I would be DEVASTATED if that happened to my daughter and the first words out of her mouth after that surgery were "Daddy, I can't see..."... I can't even imagine... I would rather cut my own eyes out than to hear those words from my childs mouth under those circumstances...
    • ArachnidDude, on 03/28/2008, -0/+1I'm sure you're a good parent. The true test is in the face of adversity though. Aquanette gets an A+. Her child is a happy, adjusted person, instead of a basket case, almost solely because she didn't crumble.
      • Talphin, on 03/28/2008, -0/+2I may or may not be the best parent in the world. That is for my child to decide. The love that I have for my daughter however is immesurable. I would suffer greatly emotionally, however I would go to great lenghts to ensure that her life was as great as it could possibly be under those circumstances. I agree that Aquanette handled it well. I also know that if she loves her child as much as I love mine, her heart was ripped in shreds after that one comment.
  • imthepresident, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2The REAL Batman
  • king3vbo, on 03/28/2008, -5/+1OLD
  • badfishmedia, on 03/28/2008, -1/+2This kid is lying, I bet he is legally blind but still sees shadows. Have him try that with a blindfold!
    • Klarth, on 03/28/2008, -0/+5He lost both of his eyes to cancer.
    • exomni, on 03/28/2008, -1/+1He doesn't have any eyes. At all. They were removed from his ***** head. He has two empty sockets.
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