PWR-080 · Auditory Perception, Localization & Echolocation

Auditory navigation and substitution

Sensory-substitution tools can add real spatial information—but the capability belongs to person, device, training, mobility tools and environment together.

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Revision 7T · Full Tutorial Edition · Release manifest · Methodology · Corrections

One source of teaching truth

Canonical Power learning unit · TLU-PWR-080

Under direct specialist supervision, Noor completes a controlled indoor route segment using the doorway code plus established mobility aids and executes the ambiguity-stop and fallback response.

Canonical Power page
PWR-080 · Auditory navigation and substitution
Full tutorial
Open full tutorial
Practical authority
The tutorial teaches the complete method; qualified supervision controls the specified practical parts.
Current treatment
Full supervised tutorial
Research depth
deep · 6 bound sources
Risk framing
low to moderate; mobility or clinical configuration can be high
Capability self-practice
Qualified supervision is required for the practical method
Pathway membership
G-CUR-007

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Explanation is not permission.

This dossier explains the evidence and its limits. It is not a diagnosis, personal recommendation, assessment, clearance, performance promise or training programme. Actionable teaching appears only when the canonical Power record explicitly authorises it.

Complete bounded explanation

What this power means.

Capability to develop or express auditory navigation and substitution in a declared context without inheriting broader claims.

What the current evidence supports

Auditory and haptic substitution can add selected navigation information in a declared device-plus-user configuration; it does not restore biological vision or universally replace a cane, guide dog or O&M training.

Cross-lane boundary: Configured auditory or haptic assistive technology only. This record does not authorise PWR-078 or human click-based echolocation. PWR-078 remains held from explanatory publication and current operational use.

How to observe or measure it without overclaiming

Report intended-user status, training, device on/off, cane/guide-dog/human support, collision type, speed, cognitive load, dropout and failure mode; no device-only score is capability in full.

Myth

See with sound

Metric

Device-on/off added value in intended users with established aids, failures and delayed use

Boundary

Encoded spatial information is not biological vision, universal safety or authority to remove a person's chosen mobility tools.

Negative and limiting findings

  • One pilot system did not outperform the white cane and device-only travel was slower with more collisions.
  • A downward sensor missed low steps at unsafe rates.
  • Helpful camera/AI output also slowed walking in a controlled comparison.

Claims this evidence cannot support

  • Restore sight through sound
  • Throw away the cane
  • AI makes blind travel autonomous
  • A blindfolded sighted test proves blind-user safety

Individual tutorial · FULL SUPERVISED TUTORIAL

How to learn this Power now.

Under direct specialist supervision, Noor completes a controlled indoor route segment using the doorway code plus established mobility aids and executes the ambiguity-stop and fallback response.

  1. Get readyA qualified orientation-and-mobility professional checks device, hearing access, primary mobility skill, route and consent.
  2. Learn the method10 concrete steps teach the permitted method from start to finish.
  3. See right and wrong7 comparisons show correct or safer execution beside common wrong or riskier choices.
  4. PractiseAt later clinic appointments, the O&M specialist may rotate the doorway among cleared corridor positions while retaining the tactile marker, five-metre boundary and full cane arc. Controlled chatter is added only after every reflected, masked or conflicting code produces a no-step fallback; stairs, platforms and traffic require separate assessment.
  5. Check progressRecord device/version/settings, route, correct/missed/false cues, stops, contacts and near misses, primary-aid use, assistance, time, burden and device-on/off difference. Add tactile-landmark arrival, cane-arc continuity, doorway-side prediction, primary-aid agreement and feet-moved-after-ambiguity to each corridor segment record.

Authority boundary: Titan teaches the complete method; a qualified person controls the parts that require supervision, clearance, specialist equipment, load, dose or progression. The method is Power-specific; its actionability follows this treatment.

Open the full tutorialOpen My Power Path

Related Powers: PWR-073 · PWR-074 · PWR-075 · PWR-076

Direct evidence register

Sources that support—and limit—the claim.

Citation roles are explicit. A source may support existence or trainability while simultaneously limiting transfer, certainty, generalisation or safety.

  1. Primary empirical supportLimiting / contrary
    Efficacy of electronic travel aids for the blind and visually impaired during wayfinding

    C. E. Pittet; E. Villar Ortega; M. Fabien; M. T. Wallace; M. Gori; M. M. Murray · 2026 · Primary research

  2. Primary empirical supportLimiting / contrary
    Navigation aid for blind persons by visual-to-auditory sensory substitution: a pilot study

    A. Neugebauer; K. Rifai; M. Getzlaff; S. Wahl · 2020 · Primary research

  3. Primary empirical supportLimiting / contrary
    Blindness and the Reliability of Downwards Sensors to Avoid Obstacles: A Study with the EyeCane

    M. Bleau; S. Paré; I. Djerourou; D. R. Chebat; R. Kupers; M. Ptito · 2021 · Primary research

  4. Limiting / contraryOfficial boundary context
    Getting around: orientation and mobility

    CNIB Foundation · 2026 · Official authority

  5. Limiting / contraryOfficial boundary context
    21 CFR 886.5905: Oral electronic vision aid

    United States Food and Drug Administration / Electronic Code of Federal Regulations · 2015 · Official authority

  6. Limiting / contraryOfficial boundary context
    Deafness and hearing loss: Safe listening

    World Health Organization · 2026 · Official authority

Current teaching and evidence boundary

The next gate remains visible.

External confirmation is required before higher-authority use because: a clinical, high-risk or regulated configuration; a supervision or non-attempt boundary; a restricted safety or legitimacy boundary.

A Power-specific tutorial is available at /tutorials/pwr-080/. It contains a plain-English method, 10 ordered steps, a worked example, right-versus-wrong comparisons, specific mistakes and corrections, practice, measurement, accessibility, stopping rules and evidence. Its supervised mode remains controlling.