Daniel Tammet, Human Calculator

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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Brain Man
Meet Daniel Tammet, a 27 year-old math and memory wizard. He can do things with numbers that will truly amaze you. He is a savant. . . with a difference. Unlike most savants, he shows no obvious mental disability, and most importantly, he can describe his own thought process. Join correspondent Morley Safer as he explores the extraordinary life and mind of Daniel Tammet.

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Web Exclusive
Human Calculator
Meet Daniel Tammet » Watch Clip

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Memorizing Pi
Only 22,514 numbers to remember » Watch Clip

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Numbers Magic
Morley puts Daniel to the test » Watch Clip

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Learning Icelandic
He did it in a week! » Watch Clip

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From The Archives
Real Life Rain Man
Meet George Finn >>Watch Clip




DID YOU KNOW?
Savants are usually mentally handicapped or autistic people whose brain somehow possesses an island of brilliance - or even genius.
It's estimated there are only 50 true savants living in the world today.
Daniel Tammet is unique among savants, because he is blessed with all of the spectacular ability of a savant, but with very little of the disability.
Great Gifts, Great Challenges "289 Is An Ugly Number" » Watch Clip View Video
Origin Of A Gift » Watch Clip View Video
Bullied » Watch Clip View Video
A Compulsion To Count » Watch Clip View Video

CommentsSound off on this segment. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
11 - 10 of 1145 First < Previous Next > Last
That guy's brain is absolutely incredible!!! 22,514 numbers and didn't miss a one!!! It really goes to show what the human brain is capable of . I found his discription of his thought process in "289 is an ugly number" incredibly fascinating. I wish him much success and somehow doubt he'll have any problem.
Posted by laneofpain on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 8:13 PM ET
2
I agree that Daniel is remarkable. This article does however wrongly define the word savant which has always been used to refer to any learned scholar or person of profound or extensive learning. Only 50 savants living in the world today? I hope not!
Posted by synaestheticmonkey on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 8:37 PM ET
3
Wow, laneofpain is right, it does show what our brain is capable of. One thing many people get wrong is that Daniel is not smart. Yes he has amazing memory and can do any math problem anyone can think about, but it is a natural ability just like us breathing or using a computer.
Posted by ericeng91 on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 8:58 PM ET
4
It is interesting that his gift is actually the result of a neurological malfunction. A friend of mine has senescence and can see people in colors. My color is orange. She said the majority of people are blue. I wonder if he has some form of this.
Posted by dustofangelsten on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:06 PM ET
5
The article does not wrongly define the word savant. Morely Safer simply did not use the full term he meant to, because it does not apply to Daniel. The term he is refering to is "idiot savant," a term which denotes a person with amazing skill in one focused area (math, music, etc) but suffers from some form of mental disability. Autisic individuals and those with Asperger's Syndrome (like Daniel) may have been termed idiot savants much more regularly in Morely Safer's youth, however, now it is not a politically correct term.
Posted by kodiak339 on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:09 PM ET
6
He is not the only one. Please take a look into Ms Shakuntala Devi and you will be amazed as well.
Posted by to_rahuls on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:11 PM ET
7
awesome...
Posted by nixjones on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:12 PM ET
8
It is hard to believe that we have existed as long as we have, yet have only evolved to know more about others and not ourself.
Posted by raclamp on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:14 PM ET
9
I watched a documentary on savants and this individual was featured in the documentary among many others. I have not really seen anything to date that empiracally substantiates the claims surrounding his abilities, along with the other savants. Fluent in a foreign language in a week? I doubt it.
Posted by piracyofficer on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:15 PM ET
10
I saw a show on Discovery Science channel about Mr. Tammet a month or two ago. He really is remarkable. And the fact that scientists can ask him questions and get insight into just how the brain of a savant works is a giant leap forward into understanding the human brain. I can't recall the title of the show, but if you get Discovery Science, I highly recommend it.
Posted by coolcelticmomma on Wed, Feb 28, 2007 9:23 PM ET
1 - 10 of 1145 First < Previous Next > Last
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