Communications of the ACM
Tongue Clicks to Control Wheelchairs
The University of Bristol's Ravi Vaidyanathan is leading a research effort to develop an in-ear device that would enable people to control a wheelchair by clicking their tongue. Vaidyanathan's group says an in-ear device, which would replace tongue-controlled interfaces, is importance for hygiene issues, and because the interface would enable people to use it when they are eating or speaking.
The in-ear device consists of a microphone that resembles an earbud and listens for four types of tongue clicks. Each low-frequency sound has a distinct local acoustic signature. The microphone sends the information to a signal processor to translate the clicks into commands for the wheelchair to move in a distinct direction.
View a video of how tongue clicks can control devices.
So far, Vaidyanathan's team has used the interface to navigate a virtual wheelchair through a maze, and to control a robotic arm. The researchers say that people can master the four tongue clicks in a couple of hours.
From New Scientist
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