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About

Michael Gaihede is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of assistive technology, human-computer interaction, and rehabilitation engineering, with a particular focus on developing innovative control interfaces for individuals with tetraplegia. His most significant contribution lies in advancing inductive tongue-computer interface (ITCI) technology, enabling people paralyzed from the neck down to operate assistive robotic arms and powered wheelchairs through precise tongue movements. His 2017 landmark paper demonstrating wireless intraoral tongue control of a robotic arm has garnered 78 citations, establishing him as a key voice in this emerging field. Gaihede has systematically addressed real-world usability challenges, investigating how tongue interfaces affect users' ability to speak simultaneously — a critical concern for practical home adoption — and exploring gesture-based control paradigms to expand the range of commands available to severely disabled users. His 2019 high-resolution tongue joystick study, with 32 citations, further pushed the boundaries of robot control precision for individuals with limited mobility. Across his body of work, Gaihede demonstrates a consistent commitment to translating engineering innovation into meaningful quality-of-life improvements for some of the most profoundly affected individuals in rehabilitation medicine.