Human echolocation works step by step

A study reveals how individual tongue clicks and their echoes contribute to object sensing

An illustration of echolocation where a person sends our a click and listen for the returned echo.

When humans echolocate, they send out a sound, typically a click (dark blue) and listen for the return echo (light gray). Expert echolocators can build a picture of their surroundings from only two sets of clicks and echoes.

T. Tibbitts

Navigating the world as a blind person sometimes involves using a cane, guide dog or wearable GPS system.