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Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by logicallee on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @09:05AM (#13763668)
>essentially guaranteed any sentient biological

The evolutionary pressure toward radar or at least sonar is pretty fucking big too (huge benefit) so where's mine?

Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by falsedan on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @09:23AM (#13763791)
You have eyes + aren't active while finding food/avoiding predators in an environment with limited visibility & great sound conduction.
Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by ewyueywu on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @09:48AM (#13764011)
alright, what about nocturnal animals with huge sensitive eyes ? or why not evolve searchlights or even lasers ?
Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by Someone on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @01:01PM (#13766370)
If you are a predator and carry a search light, chances are your prey will learn what your search light means. If you are prey, would you think it is a good idea to advertise "there's something to eat over here"?
Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by falsedan on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @10:48AM (#13764620)

  > searchlights or even lasers
Think about the return on investment on these: how much energy to grow and power vs. the improved food gathering. Also: would this make the creatures easier to find by predators?

Galagos developed large eyes rather than sonar, true. I refer you to my other comment:

  > Perhaps eyes convey a general advantage, regardless of how you find food?
Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by logicallee on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @11:05AM (#13764794)
I think we can all agree that my point is made, and it's easy to imagine sentient extraterrestrials without photoreceptors.
Re:Dot Watch – A braille and tactile smartwatch by panglott on Wednesday March 01, 2017 @10:31AM (#13764424)
Most people get a lot of information from their environment from passive sonar...how "echoey" a room is, for example. People can take this ability much further. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH0aihGWB8U