Tongue-controlled smartphone operation: 'MouthPad' wearable device emerges

A U.S. startup, Augmental, has unveiled a groundbreaking wearable device named 'MouthPad,' designed to control smartphones and computers through subtle tongue and head movements. This innovative input system promises a new way for users to interact with their digital devices.

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The MouthPad is a touchpad-type input device worn inside the mouth that can control the cursor of smartphones, tablets, and PCs by sensing tongue and head movements.

The MouthPad operates as an intraoral touchpad. Users can navigate cursors by moving their tongue and perform actions like clicking, dragging, and scrolling using a variety of gestures, including pressing the tongue or creating suction with the mouth. The device connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to multiple devices, allowing for seamless switching between smartphones, tablets, and PCs.

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It can be used by moving the tongue to move the cursor and performing clicks and scrolls through various gestures such as pressing the tongue or sucking air with the mouth.

Each MouthPad is custom-made based on a 3D oral scan, ensuring a comfortable and precise fit. It boasts an ultra-thin design, approximately 1mm thick and weighing just 10g. A single charge provides over 7 hours of continuous use. Currently retailing for around $2,000 in the United States, the device is positioned as a premium assistive technology.

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It can be connected to smartphones, tablets, and computers via Bluetooth and can be used while switching between multiple devices.

Augmental highlights that the MouthPad is discreet and designed to minimize discomfort during speech. The company believes it can offer a novel digital input method for individuals with limited mobility in their arms or hands. The startup has been refining the technology through real-world testing with hundreds of users possessing diverse abilities. Beyond general use, MouthPad is being explored for gaming and design work, with support for Figma and a beta version for CAD functionalities. Augmental is also developing 'MouthPad Drive' to control wheelchairs using tongue movements and a wearable keyboard for voice-activated text input, signaling a broader ambition to expand human-computer interfaces.

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It is custom-made based on a 3D oral scan, and is designed with an ultra-thin structure of about 1mm thickness and a weight of about 10g.