Tongue Controller Promises Better Device Interaction for Severely Disabled

From Medgadget:

A novel tongue controller designed for the disabled to operate computers, wheelchairs, etc., is being developed at Georgia Tech. The device uses two magnetic field sensors to detect the movement of a small magnet attached to the tongue, which in turn send data to a control computer for interpretation. Movement of the magnetic tracer attached to the tongue is detected by an array of magnetic field sensors mounted on a headset outside the mouth or on an orthodontic brace inside the mouth. The sensor output signals are wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer, which can be carried on the user's clothing or wheelchair. The sensor output signals are processed to determine the relative motion of the magnet with respect to the array of sensors in real-time. This information is then used to control the movements of a cursor on the computer screen or to substitute for the joystick function in a powered wheelchair. The system can potentially capture a large number of tongue movements, each of which can represent a different user command. A unique set of specific tongue movements can be tailored for each individual based on the user's abilities, oral anatomy, personal preferences and lifestyle. "An individual could potentially train our system to recognize touching each tooth as a different command," explained Ghovanloo [Maysam Ghovanloo, assistant professor at Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering --ed.].

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