Fully integrated wireless inductive tongue computer interface for disabled people.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Existing computer interfaces present challenges for individuals with severe motor disabilities.
• The need for intuitive and non-invasive control methods is critical for enhancing independence.
• Tongue-controlled interfaces offer a promising avenue for alternative computer access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, fully integrated inductive tongue computer interface.
• To evaluate the performance of this interface in a pilot study.
• To explore its potential as an assistive technology for disabled individuals.

Main Methods:

• Development of an oral unit containing inductive sensors, electronics, wireless transmission, and a rechargeable battery.
• Integration of an activation unit with 18 inductive sensors on the tongue, covering key and mouse-pad areas.
• Pilot experiment to demonstrate system functionality and assess performance metrics.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of the inductive tongue computer interface's functionality.
• Achieved a typing rate of up to 70 characters per minute.
• Recorded a low error rate of 3% during the pilot experiment.

Conclusions:

• The developed inductive tongue interface is a viable assistive technology for computer control.
• The system shows significant potential for improving communication and interaction for disabled users.
• Further testing with disabled subjects is planned to validate clinical utility.