Re:What Mary Didn't Know (1986)[pdf]
by goatlover on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @12:49AM
(#34877206)
That's very interesting. Bat neuroscience might be able to tell us whether bats use echolocation in a similar fashion as you described (they do also have ears and eyes, although many don't have color vision). If not, then probably they have an entirely different experience that humans when using echolocation.
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Re:What Mary Didn't Know (1986)[pdf]
by Nomentatus on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @01:05AM
(#34877308)
It is different - not metaphysically or entirely, but... echolocation for humans is rather long-wave (although it's experienced as vision.) You can't - I couldn't - see a door edge wise so I could walk into doors pointed right at me. But bats want it for insect location, I'm betting. Much more precise, much higher frequency.
Sure, bats echolocation is more precise, basically due to the shorter wavelength, which is quite obvious if you think about it. However, what I was trying to hint at is that the function is likely equivalent, while the implementation is definitely more sophisticated when it comes to bats. The function is to build an internal representation of the external world.