A wireless tongue-computer interface using stereo differential magnetic field measurement.
We have developed an enhanced prototype of the new Tongue Drive system (TDS), which is a noninvasive, unobtrusive wireless magnetic tongue-computer interface for people with severe disabilities. A small permanent magnet secured on the tongue using tissue adhesives, implantation, or piercing is utilized as a tracer to track tongue movements. The magnetic field variations due to the tracer movements are detected by a pair of 3-axial linear magnetic sensor modules mounted bilaterally on a headset near the user's cheeks. The sensors stereo outputs are processed and translated into user control commands after being wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer. These commands have been used in human trials to access the computer by substituting mouse functions. Measurement results showed a response time of less than 1.0 s with 99.9% accuracy for 6 direct commands, yielding an information transfer rate (ITR) of 150 bits/min.
Huo
Xueliang
X
NC Bionics Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Wang
Jia
J
Ghovanloo
Maysam
M
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface