Remus Shepherd <remus@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> So birds see magnetic north. Possibly only at dusk, when the
cryptochromes
> in their eyes are activated by the deep blue of the sky.
>
> I'm trying to imagine a sentient species with such an ability, and
what
> they might do with it. I'd expect them to ascribe religious qualities
to
> north and south, at least until their scientists figured out what the
colored
> lights in their vision mean.
I don't think it would work this way. These aren't going to be people who
lead normal lives until one day they suddenly see strange colors around
sunrise and sunset. They will be born this way. They will see it from the
moment they start seeing anything until the day they die. They will simply
know that certain directions look different than others at certain times
of the day, and will no doubt use that to get around more effectively.
They may very well assign religious significance to it, as people seem to
be able to assign religious significance to *anything*, but they won't
think about it any differently than they will their sense of smell or
touch.
I imagine such people would make great navigators. Would it be possible to
construct some sort of filter which would allow the ability to be useful
at all times of the day, and what sort of technology level would be needed
for it?
--
Michael Ash
Rogue Amoeba Software
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