Hi there

Yes Action Research funded a one year project some 10 years ago now for
me to do a bit on this.  It was to develop a wireless system  having
looked at Colin Clayton's work, and previous work at the Oxford nuffield
centre.  Problems existed with the prototype in terms of getting a
reliable signal pick up and the placement of the coil in the mouth.
Don't know of any other commercial options.  The New Abilities device
was around then but it had a battery mounted in the mouthpiece which
required it to be returned to manufacturer to have the battery changed
periodically. The issue with using anything bulky in the mouth is that
it affected speech and also eating /drinking.  

Donna Cowan 


 
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kirker, Stephen
Sent: 05 July 2005 11:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?


I believe Hitachi are trying to develop something as well, but with just
a few buttons, with radio transmission.

There was acommercially available system in Germany for a couple of
years, but it has now disappeared too. New Abilities told me they had
sold a few hundred in USA, which suggests the market is very small.
Maybe with a more adjustable software & smaller in mouth part, more
people would be prepared to use it.


Somebody told me that Action Research had expressed some interest in
this in the past?

Stephen GB Kirker MD FRCPI
Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
Box 120, Disablement Services Centre & Lewin Stroke & Rehab Unit
Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust Cambridge CB2 2QQ
01223 217870      fax 01223 242038


-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Clayton [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 05 July 2005 11:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?


I developed a prototype system such as this based on electropalatography
- 64 tiny sensors on a mouth plate. I wrote a paper about it around 1990
in a journal that no longer exists - not at work at the mo so cant tell
you a reference. I believe the electropalatography system was developed
by the people at Reading Uni in the late 80's. I recognised that this
could be used as an access method for technology and developed a system
using it. Whilst it was good as a method for speech therapy use - it had
practical probs for access use  - one such difficulty was the tiny 32
guage bundle of wires coming out of the mouth - they use to break. An
american crowd developed the Tongue Touch Keypad - sold by New Abilities
at the time - in the early 90's. It used about 6 metal pads embeded in a
mouth plate which also included a radio transmitter - so no wires -
however the mouth plate ended being big taking up quite some space in
the mouth. I think the electropalatograpy system had potential but a TX
needs embeding in the mouth to make it practical. Then there is lots of
scope because you can tinker with software to programme areas of sensors
touched with the tongue to do things - then you can explore movements of
the tongue to access technology. The scope is huge. But it needs lots of
dosh and therefore lots of convincing etc for grants. Colin Clayton

> Steve Kelly in Canterbury  [log in to unmask]   has developed  a
palate
> with 64 copper contacts for speech therapy...it displays on a computer
> which part of the palate the tongue is touching, and helps in 
> assessment and feedback.  We also wantto develop this into a gadget 
> for controlling a wheelchair and computer, but haven't got funding 
> yet...
>
> Stephen GB Kirker MD FRCPI
> Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine
> Box 120, Disablement Services Centre & Lewin Stroke & Rehab Unit
> Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation 
> Trust Cambridge CB2 2QQ
> 01223 217870      fax 01223 242038
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Taylor, Barry [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 July 2005 12:09
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?
>
>
> Aejaz
>
> Kings College did a project concerned with a palate based radio switch
> some years ago.  It may have died.  I believe Donna Cowan was 
> involved.
>
> I have also seen (somewhere?) a palate with an array of electrodes for
> touch switch use.  I worried about electrolytic action though.
>
> Sorry I haven't followed these up, but our net connection is
> imminently due to die for a Friday afternoon upgrade!
>
> Barry
>
> Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
> Medical Physics Department
> Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary
> Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ
> Tel 01482 675928, fax 01482 675750
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Zahid Aejaz (RFF) 
> Clinical Engineer
> Sent: 01 July 2005 11:28
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?
>
>
> Hi Pete
>
> I did have the HMC in mind but I think I'll need something much
> smaller than that. The client I need this for has good ROM and control

> over his tongue movements but hardly any movement of the head or lips.

> He also suffers from
> involuntary spasms that would too frequently move him out of position
> relative to an externally mounted joystick. So I was thinking about a
> device
> that he could perhaps bite onto or keep in the mouth and then control
a
> tiny
> joystick (perhaps similiar to this micro joystick:
> http://www.micronavlink.com/microjoystick.html but smaller, waterproof
and
> isolated - tall order, I know!). Alternatively a pad with a number of
> switches may just work (similiar to this http://www.newabilities.com/)
but
> I
> can't find a UK supplier for it or anyone who has experience of using
> this.
> Voice, Sip/Puff, Eye Blink have all (for different reasons) been
> eliminated
> as possible options already.
>
> Thanks, Aejaz
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete Holbourne [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 01 July 2005 10:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?
>
>
> Hello Aejaz,
>
> I have seen a HMC micro joystick used for wheel chair control.
>
> The small knob on the end of the joy stick was not in the mouth but
> was held by the mouth on a goose neck mount.  The user operated it 
> with his lips and
> tongue.
>
> I think Smile Rehab can give more info.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Zahid Aejaz (RFF) 
> Clinical Engineer
> Sent: 01 July 2005 09:58
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Tongue controlled switches or joystick?
>
>
> Dear all,
>
> I'm looking for a tongue controlled switch pad or a micro-joystick
> module that could safely and comfortably be kept in the mouth. Does 
> anyone know of an off-the-shelf solution or a module that could be 
> safely adapted for the purpose? I've seen some mentioned in American 
> AT books but never actually seen one being sold in the UK.
>
> Thanks and regards,
>
> Aejaz
>
>
> _______________________________________
> Aejaz Zahid
> Senior Clinical Scientist
> Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering
> Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
> Barnsley S75 2EP
> [T] 01226-730000 x2159
> [F] 01226-208159
>
>
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