Article

Individuals with tetraplegia depend on alternative interfaces in order
to control computers and other electronic equipment. Current interfaces are often
limited in the number of available control commands, and may compromise the
social identity of an individual due to their undesirable appearance. The purpose
of this study was to implement an alternative computer interface, which was fully
embedded into the oral cavity and which provided multiple control commands.
METHODS: The development of a wireless, intraoral, inductive tongue computer was
described. The interface encompassed a 10-key keypad area and a mouse pad area.
This system was embedded wirelessly into the oral cavity of the user. The
functionality of the system was demonstrated in two tetraplegic individuals and
two able-bodied individuals Results: The system was invisible during use and
allowed the user to type on a computer using either the keypad area or the mouse
pad. The maximal typing rate was 1.8 s for repetitively typing a correct
character with the keypad area and 1.4 s for repetitively typing a correct
character with the mouse pad area. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that this
inductive tongue computer interface provides an esthetically acceptable and
functionally efficient environmental control for a severely disabled user.
Implications for Rehabilitation New Design, Implementation and detection methods
for intra oral assistive devices. Demonstration of wireless, powering and
encapsulation techniques suitable for intra oral embedment of assistive devices.
Demonstration of the functionality of a rechargeable and fully embedded intra
oral tongue controlled computer input device.

Langue : ANGLAIS