A Wearable AI-Driven Mask with Humidity-Sensing Respiratory Microphone for Non-Vocal Communication

Hoarseness and dysphonia caused by vocal cord conditions or laryngeal surgeries significantly hinder communication and quality of life. This study presents a plug-and-play humidity-sensing respiratory microphone (HSRM) with generalized features for individual users. Leveraging gold nanoparticle-based humidity sensors integrated into commercially available wearable face masks, the system enables patients to produce verbal communication without relying on vocal cord activity. By integrating nanoparticle-enhanced humidity sensors with advanced convolutional neural networks, the HSRM system accurately decodes respiratory patterns into intelligible speech, achieving a recognition accuracy of 85.61%. Leveraging nanoparticle-polymer interfaces that effectively convert atmospheric humidity fluctuations into precise electrical signals, the system pioneers a contactless and non-invasive paradigm in assistive speech technology. This innovation addresses limitations of existing devices, such as reliance on residual vocal fold vibrations or skin-contact sensors, offering a practical generalized solution for individuals with aphonia. With its potential to facilitate naturalistic communication and transform healthcare applications, the HSRM system sets a new benchmark in wearable assistive technologies for voice rehabilitation and human-machine interaction.