Tuesday, July 01, 2008

New Technologies for assistive control

Barry sends in an article that clearly demonstrates where the technology of assistive and adaptive equipment is going in the future. From the DailyMail online we read about a control device that consists of a magnet placed under the skin of the tongue. With the aid of a headset with magnetic field sensors that detects the magnetic tracer on the tongue which transmits wireless signals to a portable computer, the user is able to steer a wheelchair or operate a computer using only the tip of the tongue.

Why the tongue you might ask? Since the tongue is directly connected to the brain, it is unaffected by even high spinal cord injuries. Plus the fact that the tongue is very accurate and does not require a lot of thought or training to opperate aides.

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