Inclusion Daily Express -- Researchers Work To Perfect Tongue-Click Controller

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Researchers Work To Perfect Tongue-Click Controller
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 30, 2008

BRISTOL, ENGLAND--Last July, Inclusion Daily Express reported that researchers were working on a device that could turn your tongue into an output device for a computer or motorized wheelchair.

The Think-A-Move technology works on the sounds the user's tongue makes when it moves inside the mouth. A very sensitive microphone is hooked up to ear buds placed in the user's ears. The signals are then transmitted to a computer that can tell the difference between sounds made when the user moves the tongue up and down, or left and right. They can then be translated into directions to control a power wheelchair or act as a computer mouse.

One of the developers, Dr. Ravi Vaidyanathan, is now a professor at the University of Bristol. He said he plans to perfect the system to double the number of commands a user can use. He also wants to make this system more user friendly, adapting to each user, instead of forcing the user to adapt to the system.

"The technology is not quite ready for clinical use without a lot of work with the patient," he said.

Dr. Vaidyanathan said he is looking at making the technology wireless because bumping the wires that go from the earpiece to the computer creates noises that can interfere with the system.

Last summer, the Ohio-based Think-A-Move company said it is looking at ways to adapt the technology for military applications, for instance, to allow soldiers to remotely operate weapons or vehicles with their tongues while leaving their hands free to do other things.

Related:
"Sound Move" (The Engineer)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0130a.htm
Think-A-Move
http://www.think-a-move.com

Copyright © 2008 Inonit Publishing
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