According to a report by the World Health Organization, around 16% of the global population experiences a significant disability. Whether caused by illness or injury, disability can impact the overall quality of life. Several fantastic technological advancements are thriving to ease the lives of people with disability. For instance, researchers are using AI to improve traffic safety for people with reduced mobility.
Still, they face hurdles in operating mobile or computer devices. In those efforts, Augmental has developed MouthPad for easier access to electronic devices. MouthPad is a smart mouthpiece that allows users to control their electronic devices through tongue, head, and breath gestures. It is more like a custom-fit mouse that connects wirelessly via a standard Bluetooth pairing and works in all major operating systems.
MouthPad’s cursor control can be set per the user’s preferences, such as pressing the tongue as a left click, click-and-drag, or sip gesture used for a right click. Augmental has integrated MouthPad with more sophisticated gestures, such as scrolling and swiping, enabling wider dimensions of control.
“We believe people deserve universal digital access to the devices that have become so ingrained in our daily lives. That’s why we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of how we interact with technology, building intuitive products that empower everyone to unleash their creativity. Whoever you are. Wherever you go. Whatever you do. The MouthPad^ was created for you.”
Augmental generates each design using a 3D model based on a scan of the user’s mouth, making it unobtrusive and discreet. Its custom design minimizes the impact on speech, allowing one to speak freely while wearing the device. The team members and early users have reportedly used MouthPad up to ten hours a day and found it to be comfortable.
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Augmental generates each MouthPad design using a 3D model based on a scan of the user’s mouth. The team then 3-D prints the retainer using dental-grade materials and adds the electronic components.
Still, the company says comfort is subjective and depends on factors such as the individual’s mouth shape and size. A few users might need more time to adjust to the device.
The MouthPad is made of resin, a dental-grade material commonly used in dental appliances. It is designed to be lightweight and durable. The batteries are manufactured by Varta, a company popularly known for its safe medical implant-grade batteries.
The MouthPad can run for over 5 hours of continuous use and takes about 1.5 hours to charge fully. The battery used here has 500 cycles, i.e., it can charge low to full 500 times before decreasing in overall performance. It is important to note that the given battery life is based on average use and can vary depending on the user’s usage.
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The MouthPad^ is designed and manufactured by Augmental Technologies Inc. Augemental is an MIT Media Lab spin-off dedicated to developing human augmentation technologies, intending to provide everyone with more intuitive ways to interact with computing systems.