Blinded soldier 'sees' with tongue device

[ via BBC Science]

A Merseyside soldier blinded by a grenade in Iraq has said his life has been turned around by technology that allows him to "see" with his tongue.

L/Cpl Craig Lundberg, 24, from Walton, Merseyside, can read words, identify shapes and walk unaided using the BrainPort device.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) selected him to trial the pioneering device which is comprised of a tiny video camera attached to a pair of sunglasses linked to a plastic "lolly pop", which the user places on their tongue to read the electrical pulses.

The soldier said the device gives off "a pins & needles sensation but it’s only a prototype and the potential to change my life is massive.”