News Review - "New device allows deaf people to hear with their tongues"

When I read this story I eyerolled and groaned. Yet another device to "fix" the deaf, more work for the deaf to figure out how it works, more frustration.

"It will require practice for the user to interpret the signals sent to the tongue as sound, but Leslie Stone-Roy, assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, believes it can be done with a couple of month’s practice." 

That's what they said about Cochlear Implants, Hearing Aids, Speech Therapy, etc. The majority of this was forced on us as children with years of work and stress.. But when we request someone to learn sign language to communicate with us, "Oh it's too much work". Huh?

Instead of concentrating on fixing the deaf, why not concentrate more on communication access? Better speech-to-text programs, put the monies into scholarships for interpreting programs, make it easier to get interpreters on demand, and offer more sign language classes?


Can anyone else think of a better use of College Inventor's time than these useless gadgets? Comment on how you feel? I'd love to hear from y'all.



Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

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