My latest essay for GOOD draws from research we're doing at Institute for the Future around the notion that "everything is programmable." The idea is that emerging technologies--from pervasive computers to synthetic biology--are making it possible to program our bodies and our worlds to desired specifications. Increasingly, we are looking at the entire world through a computational lens. In this piece, I look at how we might use technology to reprogram our senses. From GOOD:
"Digital Synesthesia"What if you could see with your skin? Or taste what you see? While those kinds of experiences might suggest a mental disorder, or an acid trip, the ability to substitute your senses by choice is on the horizon. A confluence of new technologies are leading to a kind of digital synesthesia.
Synesthesia, of course, is the fascinating neurological phenomenon whereby stimulation of one sense involuntarily triggers another sensory pathway. A synesthete might taste sounds or hear colors. But the ability to reroute the senses could dramatically help blind individuals, for example, or restore the sense of touch to amputees wearing prosthetic limbs...
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I once took way too much mdma and had a synesthesia experience. Basically I could see sound waves....I thought I was just tripping but after researching further I had found this was legitimate phenomenon....I highly reccommend it(not the mdma)just the experience....
I see colors around text. Different letters produce different "auras," so to speak. From what I understand, my perception of these colors is tied to my larger perceptions of reality and the depictions of reality presented by the written language. I don't know if it can be programmed, but if it works, please keep us updated.
Hmm, I certainly hope the tongue sensors have replaceable tips. Otherwise they're going to taste real bad, real fast.
Grant Dillion
Internet Communications
09/03/09
grantdillion,
You can leave off the signature line and date, thanks. They're already on your comment.
I have lexical gustatory synesthesia, so I taste words. I didn't even know I was different until I was in high school. I casually mentioned that the names I would give my children one day would have to taste good, they looked at me like I was insane. Looks like I'm en vogue now :)
I've always had a sense about me. To where I can sense when people are going thru a troubling time or they are coming down with a cold or just feel poorly. They think they are putting up a good front. To others they are but I ask them if anything is wrong. And they either get offended or ask me how did I know. Since I have a Irish American background I always thought I was a bit fey. But with this I wonder if this is what I have.