Enhancing Your Perception through a Vest
From: Medical Design Technology - 03/26/2015

The latest wearable device in healthcare is an incredible vest, developed by
a neuroscientist – David Eagleman. While bright and fun to watch, this vest
serves a much greater purpose that could have far reaching implications in a
wide array of industries.

Employing motors similar to those used in cell phones, this vest offers
sensations to a person's back based on the inputs provided. As illustrated
through the video below, that input can be generated by sound, news feeds,
stock market data, or visual image. The technology then translates the input
into touch sensations that are felt by the wearer through the motors in the
vest.

Given time, this "sensory substitution" technique has enabled a deaf person
to “hear” through the sensations on his back. Similar technologies have
allowed the blind to "see" using this type of device. However, aiding the
disabled is only one potential application for this type of wearable vest.

Read the entire article and view a TED video (20:35) at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/blogs/2015/03/enhancing-your-perception-through-vest

Links:
David Eagleman
http://www.eagleman.com

Laboratory for Perception and Action
http://www.eaglemanlab.net

Plasticity and Sensory Substitution
http://www.eaglemanlab.net/sensory-substitution

Related:
The Past, Present, and Future of Wearable Technology
http://www.mdtmag.com/videos/2015/02/top-past-present-and-future-wearable-technology

Driving Toward Better Health … Literally
http://www.mdtmag.com/blogs/2015/02/driving-toward-better-health%E2%80%A6literally

The Next Wearable Fitness Monitor, Actual Clothing
http://www.mdtmag.com/blogs/2015/02/next-wearable-fitness-monitor-actual-clothing