A tongue stud containing a magnetic tracing device, known as the Tongue Drive System (TDS), can be used to control a computer or drive a wheelchair, a recent report demonstrates. Both able-bodied participants and individuals with spinal cord injury performed considerably better on these activities with the TDS than with the sip-and-puff device—an assistive technology commonly used by people with tetraplegia. The researchers are now developing an intraoral version of the TDS with sensors mounted on a dental retainer.
References
Kim, J. et al. The tongue enables computer and wheelchair control for people with spinal cord injury. Sci. Transl. Med. 5, 213ra166 (2013)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Body art meets neuroprosthetics. Nat Rev Neurol 10, 3 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2013.261
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2013.261