Speaking Ability while Using an Inductive Tongue-Computer Interface for Individuals with Tetraplegia: Talking and Driving a Powered Wheelchair - a Case Study.

Abstract

This paper assesses the ability of speaking while using an inductive tongue-computer interface. Lately, tongue- computer interfaces have been proposed for computer/robotic interfacing for individuals with tetraplegia. To be useful in home settings these interfaces should be aesthetic and interfere as little as possible with the limited preserved functionality of individuals with tetraplegia. As tongue interfaces from an aesthetical point of view are preferred to be entirely intra-oral it is relevant to address their effect on speech. Here we show that reading more than 566 words while using an inductive tongue-computer interface results in a maximum sensor activation time of less than 0.6 s, which means that false activations can be avoided by a sensor dwell time of 0.6 s. Furthermore, we show that it is possible to speak while controlling a powered wheelchair with the inductive tongue computer interface.