Control the Future — With the Power of Your Tongue.
Tonguage is a revolutionary, non-invasive future 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 the exploration of innovative future solutions.
Why Using Tongue?
Existing Human-Computer Interfaces are powerful but come with significant practical limitations. The Tonguage concept is being engineered to overcome these challenges through ongoing research.
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 the Tonguage Vision?
Tonguage is a proposed framework for a future Human Computer Interface using the tongue. We define it across five key dimensions, aiming to create a robust, intuitive, and multi-faceted control system that goes beyond simple commands.
Application Scenarios
These video demonstrations show how experimental Tonguage prototypes could empower users in various real-world scenarios. Select a tab to watch.
Hands-Free Typing with Tongue-Keyboard
A prototype for a 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, exploring reliable and efficient communication tools.
Precise Navigation with Tongue-Pad
An experimental 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 prototype provides a hands-free mobility solution by allowing users to control a powered wheelchair with intuitive tongue gestures, offering a potential safe and reliable way to navigate physical environments.
Environmental Control with a Robotic Arm
Tonguage research extends 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, aiming to restore a critical level of autonomy.
Accessible Gaming & Entertainment
By mapping complex in-game actions to a combination of tongue positions, gestures, and movements, Tonguage research explores opening up the world of gaming. Players can navigate, select items, and react in real-time, making immersive entertainment accessible.
Real-World Mobility with Tongue-Mobility
This video demonstrates the experimental application of Tonguage in controlling a powered wheelchair. By translating simple tongue movements into directional commands, users can achieve independent and fluid mobility in real-world environments.
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 the Tonguage research project is our foundational step towards that future."
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.