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The Human Tongue Gets Useful in Another Way

September 2, 2008

We do a lot of things with our tongue. Aside from using it to taste things and aid a lot in biting, chewing and swallowing food, the tongue is often used to do mischievous things. I can just stick my tongue out at you and you’ll be annoyed (and perhaps angry) at what I just did. Of course, the tongue is also absolutely great to use – for kissing.

Georgia tech researchers at Atlanta, Georgia have recently developed another very useful ability for the tongue: to act as a computer control pad. This discovery can help disabled persons who cannot voluntarily move a muscle from their neck down to their feet. The Tongue Drive System turns the tongue into a joystick which makes it now possible for the person to control everything around him. This includes moving around, doing housework, operate appliances and even controlling a computer.

The Tongue Drive System is composed of a magnet which is placed under the person’s tongue to monitor the movement. Sensors are placed beside each cheek to detect the magnet’s movement. The information is passed through a receiver, which is contained in the person’s headgear. A computer processes it to interpret the information and perform such necessary movements.

Maysam Ghovanloo, leader of these cool Georgia tech researchers, mentioned that their group is further looking into the possibility of using the neighboring parts of the tongue. They are trying to work out more commands that enable a person to use the teeth and cheek.

We’re talking of the whole mouth being turned into a computer console someday!

At this time, I don’t think the tongue, being the strongest muscle of the human body, would get tired moving around the mouth to do such commands.

Source: “Tongue Computing” could help disabled

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Written by Gemma Baltazar · Gemma Baltazar is currently making out as a full-time freelance web designer and programmer. Prior to this, she worked as a maintenance engineer in a Japanese company. Much of her experience in Information Technology was gained from working as an IT specialist and instructor in a military training institution and an international computer school. One of her blogs, The Lady Programmer talks about her freelance life, experience and tips. She puts in bits of news about technology, gadgets and other computer-related stuff.

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