It is mystery. I always get lucid in flying dream without applying any
logic.
Didja see the movie "Dogma"? (1999, Kevin Smith, Chris Rock, George
Carlin)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DogmaBethanySloane.jpg
Will you please explain if you are blind how can you see and type
messages?
As a person blind from birth, I would imagine that you do have hearing
abilities better than the average human. It's just that in dreams, you are
more aware of this ability because your waking mind and body are not
distracting you as much. Dreams are pure "what is." (You know the old bit:
I am, and you are...)
One thought that interests me greatly: you say you have dreams of bicycles,
cars, and planes, even though you have been blind from birth. It would be
interesting to describe these objects to a police sketch artist and see what
is produced as a result, *especially* if you had color in these dreams.
Final thought: what if these are the dreams you are having from another
person's perspective? or from a past life? or simply from beyond the
restraints of your own physiological being? If the *soul* can see, then
perhaps you may learn to see with your soul?
Obviously, Neo, you've never heard of JAWS or other text-to-speech software.
How do you think Professor Stephen Hawking manages to synthesize speech when
he can barely move more than twitching a muscle?
(Hint: it's called "technology.")
But hawking can see. He is not blind. And although such technology
does exist, I never interacted with any blind person on usenet or
internet.
You will not believe me. Since last 3-4 days I was thinking what color
a person born blind see. It can not be 'black' because black is also
color.
And just when I was thinking over this, I got reply from person who
claim to be blind.
If steve is really born blind, I would like to ask him some question I
always had in my mind.
A born blind person don't have sense of color and hence no visual
dreams. It is scientifically well documented. And to talk about past
life is out of world. If steve is born blind and still describe
objects in colors, I am sure he will get worldwide attention.
When my eyes are closed or when there is no light, whatever appears
before my both eyes, I call it black color. Do you have any sensation
before your both eyes?
Or is it so that your eyes are not different from skin on our body? I
mean that we can't sense any color through skin on hands, legs etc.
If you don't even experience black color, then you are living in that
world which I can't imagine. Perhaps it is that state in which god or
creator was living initially. Then he somehow imagined colors which we
see now.
It is one of the stape to reach to the source, creation of this
universe.
When the flashlight is OFF, what appears before your eyes is black
color. So at least you know what black color is.
I think that blind person can draw sketches of object they touch. You
can surely draw sketch of hand although you can not color it.
It is not possible that shape of your hand does not 'appear' in your
mind.
Does shape of objects you touch appear in your mind?
> When the flashlight is OFF, what appears before your eyes is black
> color. So at least you know what black color is.
actually, Neo, that is "darkness", not "black" -- not exactly.
> I think that blind person can draw sketches of object they touch. You
> can surely draw sketch of hand although you can not color it.
It might be far easier to trace it than to draw it.
> It is not possible that shape of your hand does not 'appear' in your
> mind.
That is making an assumption, but it is an interesting one.
> Does shape of objects you touch appear in your mind?
One of the Greek philosophers stated that there is, in the imagination, a
perfect circle. Or something to the effect that the idea of a perfect circle
exists, even if one cannot be created in reality.
Neo's questions raise the idea in my mind that a blind person would "see"
images within his / her mind by traces of light. Yes? No?
> I use Jaws with a braille display.
??? do the bumps raise up on a strip-like surface? or do you actually create
printouts? The JAWS software I'm familiar with simply synthesizes speech.
I'm also making the effort to clear out as much unnecessary re-quotes as
possible.
Also, I believe Microsoft Windows has a basic text-to-speech function. (Or
used to, way back with Windows 95.)
Suppose you have poured lot of green color in swimming pool. Now take
a dip and open eyes. You would see green everywhere.
Likewise when we close eyes or switch off light in night we see
'black' color which is cosmic microwave background radiation and that
fills entire universe.
> > I think that blind person can draw sketches of object they touch. You
> > can surely draw sketch of hand although you can not color it.
>
> It might be far easier to trace it than to draw it.
>
> > It is not possible that shape of your hand does not 'appear' in your
> > mind.
>
> That is making an assumption, but it is an interesting one.
>
> > Does shape of objects you touch appear in your mind?
>
> One of the Greek philosophers stated that there is, in the imagination, a
> perfect circle. Or something to the effect that the idea of a perfect circle
> exists, even if one cannot be created in reality.
>
> Neo's questions raise the idea in my mind that a blind person would "see"
> images within his / her mind by traces of light. Yes? No?
I am still wondering.
It took millions of years to develope senses. And your cousin did it
in just few months or few years?
Color sensation depend upon wavelength of EM waves. Do you want to say
that your cousin can measure wavelength of EM wave originating from
cloth just by touch?
I am sorry but I don't get it. It is understandable if you have
developed strong sense of hearing, smell and touch. But telling color
just by touch is out of world.
Perhaps I am misinterpreting what you are saying. I will be thankful
to you if you explain it further.
1. She might be able to distinguish between broad spectrum of visible
EM waves and tell colors. But that is somewhat computer can do.
Computer can calculate wavelength and programmer can assign 'words'
like red, blue, green. Computer can calculate wavelength and flash
word like 'red' on screen. That does not mean that computer is
'seeing' red color.
Photon itself does not have color. Vibrating molecules in air does not
have sound. Energy associated with molecules does not have taste or
smell. And electrical signal propagating across neurons itself does
not have sense of touch, pain, pleasure.
I believe, 'sensation' of color, sound, touch, taste, smell can not be
explained just by physics. It is something only conscious entity can
'imagine'. And the conscious entity who keeps our heart beating,
digest food, fight viruses in body, control auto movements like
walking, that same entity is responsible for 'imagination' of color,
sound, touch, taste, smell.
And I simply can't call it just 'brain' and look at neuroscientists.
Sorry, Neo, but I do not see "black" with my eyes shut. Too many phosphorenes
in the eyelid give it a very dark, deep purple shade.