Comments on: Built-in Superpowers: Echolocation Among the Humans http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/ The science of futurist technologies—and an excuse to soak in sci-fi TV shows, books, movies, toys, and video games. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:52:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Thomas http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/comment-page-1/#comment-9969 Thomas Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:24:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/#comment-9969 I remember a number of people being really incredulous when hearing about Ben Underwood, insisting that it had to be a trick. I was a location audio engineer for a number of years and I had to assure people that it wasn't a trick. Even without echolocation, I can tell you the approximate size of a room, what the walls and floor are made of, how high up in a building the room is and even locate some of the furniture. That's just from years of listening and recording in all sorts of places. Whats actually kind of more interesting are the sounds that people generally can't tell apart, the ambiance from highways and beaches are almost indistinguishable to the untrained ear, for instance. Certain kinds of white noise in low frequencies, like those in an elevator, don't really interfere with the comprehension of human speech but a box fan can make a person virtually unintelligible. I'm going to stop now just to keep myself from going on and on. Suffice to say that super-hearing is just a matter of patience and paying attention. P.S.: Forgot to mention great post! I remember a number of people being really incredulous when hearing about Ben Underwood, insisting that it had to be a trick. I was a location audio engineer for a number of years and I had to assure people that it wasn’t a trick.

Even without echolocation, I can tell you the approximate size of a room, what the walls and floor are made of, how high up in a building the room is and even locate some of the furniture. That’s just from years of listening and recording in all sorts of places.

Whats actually kind of more interesting are the sounds that people generally can’t tell apart, the ambiance from highways and beaches are almost indistinguishable to the untrained ear, for instance. Certain kinds of white noise in low frequencies, like those in an elevator, don’t really interfere with the comprehension of human speech but a box fan can make a person virtually unintelligible.

I’m going to stop now just to keep myself from going on and on. Suffice to say that super-hearing is just a matter of patience and paying attention.
P.S.: Forgot to mention great post!

]]> By: Thomas http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/comment-page-1/#comment-9876 Thomas Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:36:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/#comment-9876 I remember a number of people being really incredulous when hearing about Ben Underwood, insisting that it had to be a trick. I was a location audio engineer for a number of years and I had to assure people that it wasn't a trick. Even without echolocation, I can tell you the approximate size of a room, what the walls and floor are made of, how high up in a building the room is and even locate some of the furniture. That's just from years of listening and recording in all sorts of places. Whats actually kind of more interesting are the sounds that people generally can't tell apart, the ambiance from highways and beaches are almost indistinguishable to the untrained ear, for instance. Certain kinds of white noise in low frequencies, like those in an elevator, don't really interfere with the comprehension of human speech but a box fan can make a person virtually unintelligible. I'm going to stop now just to keep myself from going on and on. Suffice to say that super-hearing is just a matter of patience and paying attention. I remember a number of people being really incredulous when hearing about Ben Underwood, insisting that it had to be a trick. I was a location audio engineer for a number of years and I had to assure people that it wasn’t a trick.

Even without echolocation, I can tell you the approximate size of a room, what the walls and floor are made of, how high up in a building the room is and even locate some of the furniture. That’s just from years of listening and recording in all sorts of places.

Whats actually kind of more interesting are the sounds that people generally can’t tell apart, the ambiance from highways and beaches are almost indistinguishable to the untrained ear, for instance. Certain kinds of white noise in low frequencies, like those in an elevator, don’t really interfere with the comprehension of human speech but a box fan can make a person virtually unintelligible.

I’m going to stop now just to keep myself from going on and on. Suffice to say that super-hearing is just a matter of patience and paying attention.

]]> By: Amos Zeeberg (Discover Web Editor) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/comment-page-1/#comment-9850 Amos Zeeberg (Discover Web Editor) Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:09:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/#comment-9850 Interesting question, Amphiox. I'd bet that the characteristic you're looking for in the sound is very sharp edges -- the sound should start and end very quickly, which would make it easier for your brain to analyze the echoes. I think clicks probably do have sharper leading and trailing edges than, say, humming or talking. Interesting question, Amphiox. I’d bet that the characteristic you’re looking for in the sound is very sharp edges — the sound should start and end very quickly, which would make it easier for your brain to analyze the echoes. I think clicks probably do have sharper leading and trailing edges than, say, humming or talking.

]]> By: amphiox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/comment-page-1/#comment-9794 amphiox Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:45:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2009/07/02/super-power-built-in-echolocation-among-the-humans/#comment-9794 Interesting that the most effect sound is a click. Is there any relationship at all, in terms of the properties of the sound itself, with the clicks dolphins make? Interesting that the most effect sound is a click. Is there any relationship at all, in terms of the properties of the sound itself, with the clicks dolphins make?

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