WASHINGTON: As eclipse enthusiasts eagerly await the celestial spectacle on April 8, people with visual impairments will have unique opportunities to experience the event using their other senses. Specialized sound and touch devices will be made available at public gatherings across North America during the total solar eclipse, allowing visually impaired individuals to hear and feel the phenomenon.
Yuki Hatch, a high school senior from Austin, Texas, who is visually impaired and passionate about space, expressed her excitement for the upcoming eclipse. She, along with her classmates from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, plans to listen to a LightSound box during the event, which translates changes in light into different sounds.
When the sun is bright, the device produces high flute notes, transitioning to clarinet sounds as the moon covers the sun, and concluding with a low clicking sound when darkness falls. Hatch shared her anticipation for experiencing the eclipse through sound, stating, “I’m looking forward to being able to actually hear the eclipse instead of seeing it.”
The innovative LightSound device is the brainchild of astronomer Wanda Díaz-Merced, who is blind, and Harvard astronomer Allyson Bieryla. Following a successful prototype used during the 2017 total solar eclipse in the US, the handheld device has been utilized in subsequent eclipse events. This year, the team aims to distribute at least 750 devices to locations hosting eclipse gatherings in Mexico, the US, and Canada.
With the belief that everyone should have access to celestial events, Díaz-Merced emphasized the importance of making the eclipse experience inclusive for visually impaired individuals. Workshops were conducted at various institutions to construct the devices, and DIY instructions are available on the group’s website for those interested in making their own.
Erin Fragola, outreach manager at Perkins Library, affiliated with the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts, shared plans to broadcast the changing tones of the LightSound device over Zoom for members to listen online or via telephone. The library aims to cater to both students and senior patrons with vision impairments.
In addition to sound-based experiences, individuals can also engage with the eclipse through touch using the Cadence tablet from Indiana’s Tactile Engineering. The tablet, equipped with rows of moving dots, allows users to feel graphics, Braille, and other tactile feedback. Students at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired have embraced the tablet for educational purposes, including experiencing last year’s “ring of fire” eclipse.
Jazmine Nelson, a sophomore at the school, anticipates participating in NASA’s eclipse-watching event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the Cadence tablet will be available. She highlighted the immersive experience the tablet offers, stating, “You can feel like you’re a part of something.” Her classmate Minerva Pineda-Allen expressed gratitude for the rare opportunity, acknowledging, “This is a very rare opportunity, I might not get this opportunity again.” – AP
