Thread: Computers could soon be run by tongue

Umm... interesting.

The tireless tongue already controls taste and speech, helps kiss and swallow and fights germs. Now scientists hope to add one more ability to the mouthy muscle and turn it into a computer control pad.

Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tongue-powered system could transform a disabled person's mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard -- and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.

"You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue," said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team's research.

The group's Tongue Drive System turns the tongue into a joystick of sorts, allowing the disabled to manipulate wheelchairs, manage home appliances and control computers. The work still has a ways to go -- one potential user called the design "grotesque" -- but early tests are encouraging.

The system is far from the first that seeks a new way to control electronics through facial movements. But disabled advocates have particularly high hopes that the tongue could prove the most effective.

"This could give you an almost infinite number of switches and options for communication," said Mike Jones, a vice-president of research and technology at the Shepherd Center, an Atlanta rehabilitation hospital. "It's easy, and somebody could learn an entirely different language."

That's quite a contrast to the handful of methods already available to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are disabled from the neck down.

The "sip and puff" technique, which lets people issue commands by inhaling and exhaling into a tube, is among the most popular. But it offers users only four different commands, limiting their options.

Control systems that use sophisticated pads to measure neck and head movements are widespread, but using the hardware can be tiring and frustrating on smaller electronics like computers.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/Art...aspx?e=1169189

That's good news for people who are disabled then. For people with MS and other disabling conditions this will be amazing. It's scary the rate that technology is evolving at. Is this similar technology that Stephen Hawking uses at the moment. I think I remember watching a documentary about something similar?

This would be great for those who cant use their hands~

Originally Posted by LeenkzMike

This would be great for those who cant use their hands~

Or if they're using their hands elsewhere! mg:

Hi,

Maybe be with this program I could type faster LOL

:flower:
Sami

Be more efficient. Why use one tongue joystick when you could be using two!

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Hi

mg: :1942: :jaw:

That about covers it hehehehe

:flower:

Sami

Surely that has already been done? With Stephen Hawking's muscle controlled computers.

I think so it will work good with ladies as they use their tongues so much :P

Originally Posted by tsdesigns

Surely that has already been done? With Stephen Hawking's muscle controlled computers.

you would think right but then again 50 years ago they all thought we'd be flying our cars by now

This is a great research and i hope it comes to fruition.

Good one . Don't see no one other than people with disabilities using them . It would be great for people who have lost functionality of their limbs .

The limbs? first I can't imagine using my tongue other than the usual use of it.