Operating a computer, tablet or smartphone now becomes easier for people with motor problems in their extremities, or who have no arms, with the arrival of a denture holder with an integrated ‘touch pad’.

This artifact, created by the MIT company Augmental, It works with tongue and mouth movements to simulate using a mouse on a computer or other electronic device.

The MouthPad connects to smartphones or computers via Bluetooth and allows the user to select buttons by swiping their tongue over a touchpad chip. It can be left-clicked by pressing the chip and right-clicked by making a “sip” gesture.

“As our lives become increasingly intertwined with technology and the world expands from physical to digital, it is more important than ever to ensure everyone has equal access to control inputs and new interfaces,” he said. Tomás Vega, co-founder and engineer at Augmenteel.

“Interactions with these systems need to be designed to adapt to how people perceive, process and act,” Vega added.

How the MondPad works

The device uses a machine learning algorithm in the processor to accurately track the position of the user’s tongue. It then translates those movements into cursor commands, allowing the user to perform any number of actions on their computer or mobile.

Each MouthPad is custom made for the user and they first get a 3D model of their mouth generated through an “intraoral dental scan”.

The manufacturer then places a flexible circuit board with sensors, a processing unit and a Bluetooth radio, before sealing everything in a saliva-tight box.

That can connect to and control iOS and Android smartphones, Windows, Mac and Linux based desktop and laptop computers.

These movements would not only help people with motor problems or quadriplegia, but also people who need to increase their productivity without hands, such as surgeons, astronauts or factory workers.

The MouthPad can also be used for gaming or graphic design, video and photo editing, among other things.