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MIT Spin-off 3D Prints Tongue Operated Controller

April 21, 2023

Augmental, a spin-off of the MIT Media Lab, has developed the MouthPad, a Bluetooth-powered mouthpiece that lets anyone control electronic appliances with their tongue.

3D printed for ultimate fit
3D printed for ultimate fit. (Image credit: Augmental)

The device has a touch-sensitive panel against the roof of the user’s mouth, allowing them to navigate interfaces using their tongue as a finger to move cursors and perform tasks. The MouthPad is designed to fit onto the user’s palate, with a surface that responds to touch. The electronics are enclosed within a 3D-printed brace made from dental-grade resin, with a battery unit and SoC located on the side. The MouthPad is designed to mitigate the effects of saliva-coated tongues, using machine-learning to accurately register input.

The device is aimed at people with limited mobility, particularly those who have suffered spinal injuries, allowing them to control devices with ease. The MouthPad is discrete and nuanced compared to current devices like the QuadStick, which uses a joystick that users bite down on to control.

trackpad
The trackpad is seen here in the printed structure. (Image credit: Augmental)

The MouthPad has been tested on people with limited mobility and quadriplegia with great success and a positive response. The device can also be used in ‘hands-busy’ scenarios such as surgeons, gamers, astronauts, lab technicians, and factory-line workers.

The MouthPad is currently available to potential buyers in the US who can sign up to be on the waitlist. With its sleek design and 3D-printed components, the MouthPad is an example of how 3D printing can be used to create bespoke devices to empower individuals with specific needs.

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About the author | Phillip Keane
Phillip is an aerospace engineer from UK. He is a graduate of Coventry University (UK), International Space University (France) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), where he studied Advanced Manufacturing at the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing.
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