Finding new ways to increase inclusion and accessibility is important because more than one billion people around the world are living with a disability, according to World Health Organization. One in seven U.S. adults has a disability that affects their mobility, reports Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People with mobility impairments may need assistance with typing, scrolling, or playing games. These disabilities can affect someone’s ability to workConnect with others socially or emotionally, or enjoy their electronic devices.
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However, Corten Singer and Tomás Vega, co-founders of increasea byproduct of the MIT Media Lab, determined to give people with disabilities more control — and that’s where a new assistive technology called MouthPad can have a big impact.
MouthPad allows users to control electronic devices with their tongue. The MouthPad resembles a plastic holder, much like Invisalign, and includes the touchpad, pressure sensor, battery, charging coil, and Bluetooth chip.
Historically, assistive technology has been limited to eye tracking device, joysticks, and voice-to-text apps. But Vega says these technologies are outdated, cumbersome and lack discipline.
“Computers allow us to create, learn, share, express and connect with others. Computers are amazing not because of the intelligence they provide, but because they are so easy to control — for you and for me,” Vega said. “But for people with severe hand impairments, it’s not easy; it’s actually quite challenging because they rely on outdated and non-expressive interfaces.”
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MouthPad offers something different. The technology fits the user’s mouth and connect to their device via Bluetooth. Once the MouthPad is inserted, the user can speak and close their mouth, eliminating the bulkiness and sometimes discomfort of the oral joystick.
The singer is concerned that people with disabilities are sometimes excluded from sections of society because they do not have equal access to technology. However, he believes the tools he is developing at Augmental can help promote inclusivity.
“In our society, in the past, if you had a physical disability, it was almost impossible to participate in social organizations and become a contributing member of the community because you didn’t have one,” says Singer. access rights. “But for now, there’s no reason to exclude everyone. We have all the technology we need to enable equal access.”
Singer and Vega acknowledge that MouthPad works best when paired with voice technology and that the device is not intended to replace assistive technology that already exists and works well. However, the device can be used without voice if the user is in a situation where privacy is desired.
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To receive a MouthPad device, interested parties must first join the waiting list. They will then receive equipment to complete a dental scan so Augmental can visualize the inside of their mouth. The MouthPad is a custom-made device, which means its design is customized to the user’s oral anatomy.
Singer and Vega focused on the tongue as a means of controlling an electronic device because of its agility, precision, stamina, and ability to execute complex sounds and movements. The human tongue is a unique combination of eight different muscles and is similar in structure to the trunk of an octopus or the tentacles of an octopus.
“We liken the tongue to the eleventh finger,” says Singer.
An important nerve in the human brain that controls the tongue and most of its control is innate and serves an important evolutionary and survival function. Harnessing the blade’s seemingly unlimited stamina means users won’t need to take a break from using the MouthPad until the device’s battery runs out.
“I’m speaking right now and I’m moving my tongue quickly and accurately, and I don’t even have to think about it,” Vega said. “There are countless different blade configurations, and our goal was to take advantage of the tongue’s intrinsic dexterity and create an expressive, natural, and effortless look.”
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Krystina Wray Jackson uses MouthPad when they are creating graphic art at work. Jackson says things like controlling the TV, checking email and creating art have become simpler and more enjoyable since using this technology.
“Sucking the MouthPad has quickly become an integral part of my daily life,” says Jackson. “It’s hard to imagine life before this device.”
Jackson said voice control technologies, such as Siri And Alexa, less flexible and convenient than MouthPad. Sometimes, Jackson travels by car or plane and doesn’t want to say voice commands out loud. MouthPad mitigates this problem by helping to maintain privacy without giving up control of the device.
Currently, Singer and Vega’s company, Augmental, must complete FCC certification before it can sell and ship the device. So the details surrounding the device’s price and wide availability are unclear.
