Effects of sensory feedback in intra-oral target selection tasks with the tongue.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of visual and tactile intra-oral sensor-position feedback for target selection tasks with the tip of the tongue.


METHODS
Target selection tasks were performed using an inductive tongue-computer interface (ITCI). Visual feedback was established by highlighting the area on a visual display corresponding to the activated intra-oral target. Tactile feedback was established using a sensor-border matrix over the sensor plates of the ITCI, which provided sensor-position tactile queues via the user's tongue. Target selection tasks using an on-screen keyboard by controlling the mouse pointer with the ITCI's was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Mean target selection rates of 23, 5 and 15 activations per minute were obtained using visual, tactile and "none" feedback techniques in the 3rd training session. On-screen keyboard target selection tasks averaged 10 activations per minute in the 3rd training session. Involuntary activations while speaking or drinking were significantly reduced either through a sensor-matrix or dwell time for sensor activation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide key design considerations to further increase the typing efficiency of tongue-computer interfaces for individuals with upper-limb mobility impairments.
Aalborg University, Department of Health Science and Technology, Fr. Bajers Vej 7E, Aalborg, Denmark. hca@hst.aau.dk
Hector A
HA
Caltenco
Eugen R
ER
Lontis
Bo
B
Bentsen
Lotte N S
LN
Andreasen Struijk
D000328:Adult; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D006801:Humans; D014059:Tongue; D014584:User-Computer Interface