MIT Spin-Off Augmental's Hands-Free MouthPad

The widespread adoption of technology seems to become greater and greater each year. When coupled with the significant advancements made by the continuously increasing players in the industry, it is apparent that digital devices have unavoidably become a significant part of mankind’s daily lives.

Despite its ubiquitous nature, the current accessibility rate of digital devices still leaves some room for improvement, often out of reach for several groups of people, such as those who have mobility impairments.

In an effort to make modern tech equally attainable for everyone, able-bodied or not, MIT Media Lab’s spin-off hardware startup Augmental has developed the MouthPad, a 3D-printed device that allows one to control their devices using the tip of their tongue, courtesy of Bluetooth and machine learning algorithms.

Custom Fit with Medical Grade

The thought of having a device placed inside the mouth, close enough for the tongue to reach even, may sound worrying to some in regard to hygiene and health. It may also be difficult to imagine how such a device can be made one-size-fits-all, as while humans share similarities in basic facial features due to genetic and evolutionary reasons, mouth sizes can still differ.

Created to ease the use of digital devices to assist humans, Augmental thought these worries through before finalizing its out-of-the-ordinary, boundary-pushing hardware. Once production for customers and public release starts, The MouthPad will be custom-made and 3D-printed based on the user’s mouth dimensions, shapes, and sizes, ensuring a perfect fit.

In terms of materials, the MouthPad is made using carefully sourced dental-grade materials from reputable companies Augmental deems trustworthy. The device is made and printed with KeySplint Soft resin, typically used for dental aligners and bite guards. It is powered by a battery produced by Varta, a company specializing in manufacturing medical implant-grade batteries. Aside from safety and hygiene, Augmental states that these materials were also handpicked to ensure the MouthPad is lightweight and durable.

The MouthPad is placed on the roof of one’s mouth, invisible to everyone. Augmental claims that the device poses minimal disruption to speech, allowing one to still carry on with their day–to–day activities, this time without having to touch their electronics so much.

According to Augmental, some team members and early testers faced a little discomfort during the early stages of trying out the MouthPad, mainly due to increased salivation as their mouths were adjusting to the device’s placement. However, after an extended period of about 2 days or so, testers found the device to be comfortably located and got their normal salivation pattern back, with all discomfort eased.

Durability and Functionality

Essentially made to be a hands-free touchpad likened to an “11th finger,” users are meant to utilize the device to control their smartphones, computers, and tablets by making use of not only the dexterity of the tip of their tongue but also through jaw, head, and breathing gestures.

Using machine learning algorithms, the device can detect said gestures and correspond them to the standard clicks and control interfaces that people regularly encounter when using their digital devices. The aiding features the MouthPad offers are aimed at empowering the impaired, like assistive technology such as adaptive keyboards or mouth-operated joysticks would do. This time, however, controls are performed wirelessly via Bluetooth and require less to no extra effort.

The MouthPad, which is compatible with most standard platforms, including MacOS, Windows, and Linux on desktop as well as iOS and Android on mobile, has a general thickness of about 0.7mm and a battery time of over 5 hours for continuous use. The device, which is coupled with a charging case, will automatically charge when unused and returned to its case, taking about 2 hours for a full charge.

When deciding to pursue the MouthPad’s production and running some tests, Augmental found the device to potentially tackle issues in regard to using digital devices previously faced by not only those with impairment and limited hand control but also those who face hands-busy scenarios in the workplace. This may include surgeons, gamers, astronauts, factory workers, and lab technicians.

With this knowledge, Augmental hopes that the MouthPad can lead to a more accessible and convenient future where technology is made to be more human-friendly, not the other way around.

The Early Access waitlist is now open for those eager to try out the MouthPad and for early adopters who wish to be first in line when the device gets publicly released. Enthusiasts can sign up through Augmental’s website. If one isn’t satisfied with their Early Access package, a full refund is viable within 30 days of delivery.

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Job Posting

• Augmental - Lead Electronics Engineer - San Francisco, CA (In-Office/Hybrid)

• BlackLine - Data Engineer - San Francisco, CA+ (Remote/Hybrid)

• CrunchyRoll - Senior Software Engineer, Video Transcoding - San Francisco, CA+ (Remote/Hybrid)

• The Hershey Company - Sr Engineer Data Visualization - Hershey, PA+ (Remote/Hybrid)

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