Tongue driven wireless electronic communication device

Abstract

Wireless assistive technology plays an important role in helping out people with severe disabilities. It helps to provide support in their everyday life and also control their surrounding environment. In this paper, we propose two types of designs for a tongue driven wireless electronic communication device, which are wearable wireless assistive technologies designed for individuals with disabilities. These devices allow them to control most of the functions of a typical computer, navigate and drive wheelchair, control robotic arms and their surroundings using the tongue. The device is tongue operated and non-invasive. Furthermore, it incorporates wireless technology, which overcomes the limitations involved in hard wired assistive devices. The reason for choosing tongue is that it is considered as an excellent appurtenance for operating assistive devices in people with severe disabilities. The first design incorporates the mounting offour force sensors in a diamond shape array on one side of the cheek and a single force sensor mounted close to the chin within a facial mask. The second design features a joystick on one side of the cheek mounted on a 3-D printed headgear and an individual force sensor on other side of the cheek. These wearable devices can be controlled by unconstrained tongue motion in up, down, right and left directions over the cheek for navigation purpose.