Georgia Tech boffins have created a new computer interface that turns the tongue into a control mechanism much akin to a joystick. They envision a system where a disabled person’s mouth could be transformed into a virtual computer where teeth act as a keyboard that is controlled by a magnetic tongue.
Their Tongue Drive System enables people who are disabled from the neck down to operate wheelchairs and even control computers via a 3mm magnet placed under the tip of their tongue.
Unfortunately, the technology is not quite as elegant as it seems. Sensors inside of each cheek detect tongue movements and send this data to a processor inside a bulky set of headgear worn by the user. Software converts these movements into commands to operate the user’s wheelchair or external devices like computers or home appliances.
The tongue is a logical choice of interface for the disabled as it is wired to the brain rather than the spinal cord. As a result, the tongue’s functions mostly remain unaffected in accidents that can paralyze the rest of the body.
Sources:
Georgia Tech Group and International Herald Tribune