Tongue-Controlled Technology: Could Orofacial Myologists Play a Part?

Imagine a future where your tongue tip, not your finger tip, is in control of your interaction with the digital world: it can make video calls, write essays, paint digital images, check the weather and even doom scroll. It seems like a concept for a sci-fi tv show, but the future of handsfree human-computer interaction is happening now. For years handsfree technology has been opening up a more inclusive world for people with a range of physical disabilities or challenges to interact with the digital world by using voice-command, head and eye tracking and chin or lip-controlled joysticks.

Tongue-Controlled Technology is the Future

Recent innovation of assistive technologies has integrated utilizing tongue-controlled interfaces that connect to smart phones or computers. These tongue-operated technologies,  intraoral joysticks or mouth-based touchpads, leverage the tongue’s dexterity and its general lack of fatigue (compared to eye tracking technology). Tongue-controlled interfaces are also desirable to users who want to use their handsfree personal devices discreetly without a hefty, conspicuous apparatus. As handsfree assistive technology is becoming more sophisticated, less cumbersome, easier to operate and much smaller. Users who have mobility issues due to significant spinal injury or limited/no use of their hands can gain increased independence and active participation in society using tongue-controlled technology. This is especially true when it connects to their phone or computer. The application of this technology can even be employed when the hands are temporarily occupied, such as when playing a musical instrument or when performing surgery and the user needs to interact with a screen.

An example of one such handsfree, tongue-controlled technology is the MouthPad^ (by Augmental), a customized, 3-D printed intraoral pressure-sensitive touchpad. It is encased in dental resin and worn as a palatal appliance that resembles a retainer. Precise tongue movements (across horizontal, vertical and lateral planes) control the cursor on this bluetooth connected device. To make a selection (or “click”), the user simply applies lingual pressure on the pad. To perform a “right-click”, it is activated with a sipping action. Users can do all the things that people usually do with a mouse pad or touchscreen for all their personal devices – it’s just operated by their tongue!

Orofacial Myologists as Tongue-Controlled Technology Consultants

Because the user is required to perform precise lingual and oral skills, tongue-controlled technology presents opportunities for Orofacial Myologists as consultants in this exciting and innovative space. Since Orofacial Myologists are intimately familiar with the mouth and understand the mechanics of lingual movements, they are well-equipped to offer a unique professional perspective. Their role could be integral to identify and address usability issues with the technology as a result of: poor lingual-mandibular differentiation, limited lingual range of motion, poor lingual control and shaping, reduced suctioning ability, and any structural barriers including ankyloglossia. Myo therapy would address the user’s oral control and coordination to improve their usability of the intraoral technology. Tongue-controlled technology is quickly becoming the future and will probably be widely used before we even expect – Orofacial Myologists better be ready when that time comes!