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by celticjames 5200 days ago
I don't know that I would want an implant, but I'd like to try a haptic compass. You strap it on and it gives you a physical sensation of where north is, as if you were a bird with magnetoception.

Wire article on haptic compasses: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.04/esp.html
2 comments
ciex 5199 days ago
The funny thing about these is that they don't really make you constantly aware of where north is. To answer that question you would have to concentrate on the vibration. What acutally happens is way cooler: You become subconsciously aware of the structure of the space surrounding you. This is something that everyone has to a leser extent i.e. you could point at the direction of various objects around you and tell me roughly how far away they are even without looking. When you have been wearing the belt for a few weeks you are able to do this even for objects that are not in you immediate vicinity. You get an actual feeling for the location of all kinds of things. Imagine having an accurate intuition for the location of your home town or the next highway exit! Another example: you could visit a city where you have never been before, wander around the streets without caring for where you go and then immediately find the shortest route back to where you started. And it would be about as hard for you as finding the way to the door of the room you're in right now.
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eco 5199 days ago
Sounds neat. I just use my phone.
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Lockyy 5199 days ago
You say that as if it's just as convenient to get out your phone and get your map up as it is to just intuitively know where to go.
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freehunter 5200 days ago
That would be nice, and I imagine I could get used to the noise. Problem is, others wouldn't. Vibration has this effect in cellphones, you can hear the rumble and it could disturb classmates or coworkers.

It would be cool to have something like this that defaults to north, but could be programmed using GPS and a smartphone to point somewhere else.

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etcet 5199 days ago
> It would be cool to have something like this that defaults to north, but could be programmed using GPS and a smartphone to point somewhere else.

Absolutely, bike rides to unknown places would be a joy.

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