So, here’s another amazing experience with BrainPort

In 2001, adventurer Erik Weihenmayer climbed Mount Everest and went down in history as the first person to complete this grueling task without sight (no devices used). You can see the rest of his adventures by clicking here, but in the meantime, the video below gives us a look into how BrainPort is utilized in his life when he isn’t out there conquering the world.

Vision helps us feel like a part of our tribe.

Nearly a decade after this video was uploaded, The New Yorker to published an article written by Nicole Twilley. Here’s a small excerpt from her interview with Weihenmayer:

He told me that he had never seen the world particularly well even before he became totally blind. “With the BrainPort, it’s similar to what I used to be able to see like,” he said. “Shapes, shades of light and dark—where things basically were, but not anything super-vivid, you know?”

“When you go blind, you get kicked out of the club,” Weihenmayer told me. Using the BrainPort, he said, makes him feel like part of the gang again. He can see what his family is doing, without anyone needing to tell him. And he can never forget seeing his son smile for the first time. “I could see his lips sort of shimmering, moving,” Weihenmayer said. “And then I could see his mouth just kind of go ‘Brrrrp’ and take over his whole face. And that was cool, because I’d totally forgotten that smiles do that.” 6

Weihenmayer is working to make it possible for everyone to live without barriers in their life, with a movement thriving on the motto, “what’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way.” Learn more about No Barriers to be inspired by a beautiful community.

Technology, at its core, is developed to add something to our lives; to break down our barriers, provide ease, increase efficiency, and shine light into the dark spaces.

But this is only progress that can happen if we’re all talking about the fantastic advances being made in technology, and finding ways to make them easily accessible for those who hold the desire to include these devices in their lives. Please, share this article within your own circles so that this information will land in the right hands.