Blind and visually impaired individuals will have the opportunity to experience the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8 in a unique way – through sound and touch. Thanks to the innovative LightSound device, created by Harvard University astronomer Allyson Bieryla and astronomer Wanda Díaz-Merced, those who cannot see will be able to hear and feel the eclipse.
The LightSound box translates light into sound, allowing users to experience the eclipse through auditory and tactile sensations. The device, about the size of a paperback novel, uses a light sensor to measure the brightness of the sky and a code on a microcontroller board to create different sound effects based on the lux ranges. Flute sounds represent intense light, a clarinet signifies fading light, and a clicking noise indicates darkness.
Users can choose to listen to the sounds through headphones or the device’s speaker, providing a personalized experience of the celestial event. Díaz-Merced emphasized the importance of making the eclipse accessible to everyone, stating, “The sky belongs to everyone. And if this event is available to the rest of the world, it has to be available for the blind, too.”
The solar eclipse will be visible in 15 U.S. states, with totality first reaching Del Rio, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. CDT before tracing a path across the country. The total eclipse will last from a few seconds to about 4.5 minutes, depending on the location. From Texas to Maine, millions of people will have the opportunity to witness this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon, including those who are blind or visually impaired, thanks to the groundbreaking LightSound device.