A Framework for Mouse Emulation that Uses a Minimally Invasive Tongue Palate Control Device utilizing Resistopalatography

The ability to interface fluently with a robust Human Input Device is a major challenge facing patients with severe levels of disability. This paper describes a new method of computer interaction utilizing Force Sensitive Resistor Array Technology, embedded into an Intra-Oral device (Resistopalatography), to emulate a USB Human Interface Device using standard Drivers. The system is based around the patient using their tongue to manipulate these sensors in order to give a position and force measurement; these can then be analyzed to generate the necessary metrics to control a mouse for computer input

The treatment of a severe ataxic dysarthria, using electropalatography. Single case study

Electropalatography has been used successfully with several client groups (Hardcastle et al 1991). Intelligibility has been improved in children with articulation difficulties as a result of cleft palate, or with dyspraxia, or long standing phonological difficulties. There has been less work with adults and a very limited amount with acquired dysarthrics (Gibbon 1997). In the majority of cases reported, there has been a degree of improvement in intelligibility (eg Goldstein et al 1994). This is not a miraculous return to "normal speech", but an improvement, often where conventional speech therapy has failed. The Canterbury and Thanet Speech and Language Therapy Department, together with the local Community Dental Department and the University of Kent Medical Electronics Research Team, have undertaken a clinical trial. The intention was to have a subject group of at least 24 adult, acquired dysarthrics, and to compare the effects of electropalatography with conventional speech and language therapy in each case. Dr Rosemarie MorganBarry acted as a Speech and Language Therapy adviser and the research was funded by SE Thames Regional Health Authority. The results of this clinical trial will be fully reported in a separate paper. This paper reports on a single case history from within the trial

Investigation into Wheelchair Mobility Control that Uses a Minimally Invasive Intra-Oral Palate Control Device utilising Resistopalatography Techniques

Interfacing with conventional wheelchair input devices is a major challenge when it comes to patients with high levels of disability. This paper intends to report on the new method of wheelchair mobility interfacing using Resistopalatog- raphy. The technique proposed here is based around utilising the tongue as the controlling muscle group to input desired movement into a force sensitive sensing dental retainer. Using the position of the force, and force applied a direction and speed metric can be calculated emulating conventional joystick output data. The resistopalatography technique has been applied to other Human Machine Interfacing areas with success [1]

Non-overlapping dual camera fall detection using the NAO humanoid robot

With an aging population and a greater desire for independence, the dangers of falling incidents in the elderly have become particularly pronounced. In light of this, several technologies have been developed with the aim of preventing or monitoring falls. Failing to strike the balance between several factors including reliability, complexity and invasion of privacy has seen prohibitive in the uptake of these systems. Some systems rely on cameras being mounted in all rooms of a user's home while others require being worn 24 hours a day. This paper explores a system using a humanoid NAO robot with dual vertically mounted cameras to perform the task of fall detection

ANALYSIS OF CHANGING METHODS OF VERTICAL COORDINATION IN THE PORK INDUSTRY

This study examines the motivation behind contracts and vertical integration in the pork industry, and simulates the effects of potential improvements in coordination. Incentives related to lowering costs of measuring and sorting hogs, and protecting against opportunistic behavior associated with specific assets, can result in hog quality improvements. A framework for simulating the effects of increased coordination through contracts and vertical integration was developed and used to evaluate potential improvements in leanness. Although simulations suggest only modest changes in pork prices and supplies, gains in consumers' surplus could be substantial for larger demand shifts due to quality improvements.Contracts, Hogs, Lean pork, Simulation model, Vertical coordination, Vertical integration, Industrial Organization, Livestock Production/Industries,

Comparison of 3D scanned human models for off-body communications using motion capture

Body area networks are complex to analyze as there are several channel mechanisms occurring simultaneously, i.e. environmental multipath together with body motion and close coupling between worn antennas and human tissue. Electromagnetic (EM) simulation is an important tool since not all studies can be done on a real human. In order to gain insight into off-body communication involving a worn antenna, this paper uses a 3D animated model obtained from a 3D surface scanner and a motion capture system for full wave simulation of channels at 2.45 and 5.5GHz. To evaluate if the model can represent body area radio channels in general, a comparison of S21 of the simulated model with measurements from 5 other models of similar height to the main test subject is presented

Passive wireless tags for tongue controlled assistive technology interfaces

Tongue control with low profile, passive mouth tags is demonstrated as a human–device interface by communicating values of tongue-tag separation over a wireless link. Confusion matrices are provided to demonstrate user accuracy in targeting by tongue position. Accuracy is found to increase dramatically after short training sequences with errors falling close to 1% in magnitude with zero missed targets. The rate at which users are able to learn accurate targeting with high accuracy indicates that this is an intuitive device to operate. The significance of the work is that innovative very unobtrusive, wireless tags can be used to provide intuitive human–computer interfaces based on low cost and disposable mouth mounted technology. With the development of an appropriate reading system, control of assistive devices such as computer mice or wheelchairs could be possible for tetraplegics and others who retain fine motor control capability of their tongues. The tags contain no battery and are intended to fit directly on the hard palate, detecting tongue position in the mouth with no need for tongue piercings