Daniel Tammet

[Immersion]

Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant who lives in England. He has Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism that affects thinking, and in some cases, involuntary muscle movements. Mr.Tammet is good with crunching extremely large numbers with ease, calendar calculating, and languages. To prove his ability with numbers, and to raise money and awareness for the UK's National Autistic Foundation, he sat down in front of Albert Einstien's chalkboard on Einstein's birthday, which is also his birthday, and correctly recited the solution to Pi to 22,514 digits in his head over 5 hrs., 9 min., and 24 sec., ensuring him a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. He experiences numbers synesthetically, which means a blending of the senses, and doesn't do to much calculating rather. The answers come to him in shapes, colors and textures. His memoir has just been released in the US. It's called, "Born on a Blue Day." His case is remarkable, and scientists are eager to study him, as he has the ability to communicate about what is going on in his brain as he thinks and calculates-something most people who have autism are unable to do. Visit his blog at: www.optimnem.co.uk. You can also order an autographed copy of his book through his website.