Hands-free electronics control – the answer is on the tip of your tongue
Summary
The completely bespoke design is the creation of Co-Founders and engineers, Tomás Vega and Corten Singer, who wanted people with limited hand control to be able to confidently interact with the world in a discreet way. The MouthPad^ is being touted as being part of “an exciting new wave of accessible tech products set to emerge from Silicon Valley.” With the guiding principles of universal design and inclusivity, the smart intra-oral interface device clicks in place on the roof of the mouth, much like a retainer from the dentist, and by combining smart 3D printing, electronics encapsulation, and dental materials it houses a trackpad, pressure sensor, battery, charging coil, and Bluetooth chip, and it connects to almost any device – no need to buy or install any new software or equipment. With a weight of approximately 7.5g and a 0.7mm thickness, the lightweight design is around 80 x 50 x 30mm depending on the dimensions of the wearers mouth, meaning it can be carried in a case that fits in a pocket or bag when it’s not being used. Vega comments: “As our lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, and the world expands from the physical to the digital, its more important than ever to ensure that everyone has equal access to control inputs and new interfaces … Interactions with these systems must be designed to cater to how humans perceive, process, and act.” The MouthPad^ allows users to speak whilst wearing it and activating the tongue-driven navigation. Machine learning algorithms inside its processor send commands to a connected device via Bluetooth and become cursor movements and clicks.