For the most immobile
The smart device allows the completely paralyzed to communicate with the ear
Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+
There are developments that allow paralyzed people to communicate by reading minor contractions of facial muscles, but even such movements are not available for some of them. It is for them that engineers from the UK have invented an alternative device that tracks the contraction of one of the smallest human muscles.
The experimental Earswitch device was developed by the team of Nick Gompertz from University of Bath for those who are unable to move and speak, according to a press release 'Earswitch' could allow people with neurological conditions to communicate using a hidden ear muscle.
It consists of a silicone earphone connected to a computer, which has a tiny camera. A light source is implanted into the patient's ear canal, and the camera monitors the movement of the Tensor tympani muscle straining the eardrum. This is one of the smallest muscles in humans, so it is likely to be able to contract those who cannot control other, larger muscles.
How this (unfortunately, painfully slow) happens, you can see on the website earswitch.co.uk – VM.
In front of the user's eyes is a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. By contracting the muscle, you can select the desired row, and in it – the letter. The camera in the earphone captures the movement and transmits the signal to the computer. In order to speed up the process, the program prompts the whole words, which can also be selected.
The developers founded a private company to try to enter the market with their technology. Perhaps they will be able to use it not only in the field of rehabilitation, but also to perform everyday tasks that require free hands. Engineers also conduct an open survey for people with and without neurological disorders to understand what percentage of the population is able to control the contraction of the eardrum muscle.
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