Control the Future — With the Power of Your Tongue.
Tonguage is a revolutionary, non-invasive Human-Computer Interface, designed to transform how people with motor impairments interact with the digital and physical world.
A Critical Global Challenge
Every year, millions of people live with spinal cord injuries, ALS, cerebral palsy, and other neuromuscular conditions that strip away their ability to interact with the world. What most take for granted—sending a message, moving a wheelchair, or changing a TV channel—becomes a daily struggle. This urgent reality demands innovative solutions.
Why Using Tongue?
Existing Human-Computer Interfaces are powerful but come with significant practical limitations. Tonguage is engineered to overcome these challenges.
The Tongue Advantage
The tongue is the ideal interface medium, offering a unique combination of precision, resilience, and discretion.
- Controlled by cranial nerves, often unaffected by spinal cord injuries.
- Moves rapidly and accurately with minimal fatigue for all-day use.
- Completely non-invasive and discreet, using only a standard camera.
What is Tonguage?
Tonguage is a brand new Human Computer Interface using the tongue. We define it across five key dimensions, creating a robust, intuitive, and multi-faceted control system that goes beyond simple commands.
Application Scenarios
These video demonstrations show how Tonguage empowers users in various real-world scenarios. Select a tab to watch.
Hands-Free Typing with Tongue-Keyboard
An innovative hands-free typing system featuring a custom 9-key keyboard with distinct typing and selection modes. It integrates a Dynamic Vocabulary Bank (DVB) for word prediction, providing a reliable and efficient communication tool.
Precise Navigation with Tongue-Pad
A complete mouse replacement that combines precise cursor control via tongue movement with eye blinks for clicks and selections. This multi-modal approach offers a seamless and efficient way to navigate any digital interface.
Independent Mobility with Tongue-Wheel
This application provides a fully hands-free mobility solution by allowing users to control a powered wheelchair with intuitive tongue gestures, offering a safe and reliable way to navigate physical environments and enhance independence.
Environmental Control with a Robotic Arm
Tonguage extends its control to the physical world by manipulating a robotic arm. This allows users to perform essential daily tasks like grasping objects or interacting with their environment, restoring a critical level of autonomy.
Accessible Gaming & Entertainment
By mapping complex in-game actions to a combination of tongue positions, gestures, and movements, Tonguage opens up the world of gaming. Players can navigate, select items, and react in real-time, making immersive entertainment accessible.
Our Vision & Impact
"Our mission is to empower individuals with motor impairments by providing a seamless and intuitive bridge to the digital world. We believe in a future where technology creates a truly level playing field, and Tonguage is our foundational step towards that future."
About the Inventor
Hollie Tang, inventor and lead developer of Tonguage, began this journey not just out of technical curiosity, but from seeing how everyday tasks can become overwhelming challenges for people living with motor impairments. The simple act of sending a text or turning on the lights—things most of us never think twice about—sparked her determination to find a better way.
What started as a personal exploration has grown into a mission: using AI and computer vision to restore independence and dignity through accessible design. Guided by a belief in user-centered innovation, Hollie is now seeking academic and industry partners to help expand the reach and capabilities of this platform.
Participate in the Research
Our research is ongoing. If you are interested in participating in user studies, collaborating, or following the development of the Tonguage platform, we would love to hear from you. Please send us an email to get in touch.