I got the BrainPort today, and I’m going to be trying it out for a month. Basically the BrainPort is a plastic box, just a bit bigger than the size of my hand, that has a cord attached to it on one end, which goes around your neck (leaving the BrainPort to hang and rest on your chest).

It has a long, flexible plastic protrubance on the other end with a square, gold-coloured set of electrodes at the end, which rest on your tongue. The front of the box has a button and a dial on it, which turn the device on and off, as well as regulate the level of electricity that flows from the electrodes to your tongue.

I’ve been instructed to use the BrainPort for 20 minutes twice a day, which I have to do in a ‘challenging balance position’ — which for me is standing heel to toe (like a tight-rope walker). It’s really hard on the legs and feet though, because you spend the 20 minutes swaying back and forth trying to keep your balance.

When using the BrainPort, it gives your tongue a little shock (nothing serious, it’s certainly not painful in any way) when you go off-centre. It’s supposed to somehow condition your tongue to understanding where your head is at in space. I’m going to try it out for the whole month, and I’ll report back on how it goes as the month progresses. I hope it works.