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"Discovery Files" Features from the National Science Foundation
"Tongue Drive"
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
48 kbps |
96 kbps
(90 seconds)
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READER SCRIPT
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READ MY TONGUE... THE "DISCOVERY FILES": NEW ADVANCES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. THE VERSATILE TONGUE: WE CAN WAG IT, BITE IT, TWIST IT, TIE IT, ROLL IT, CURL IT, PIERCE IT, DEPRESS IT, EVEN LET THE CAT GET AT IT. THE TONGUE CAN TAKE US TO HEIGHTS IN CULINARY ENTHRALLMENT, OR SUDDEN BOUTS OF VOCAL ELOQUENCE. AND, JUST LOOK AT WHAT IT'S DONE FOR GENE SIMMONS. NOW, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY THAT THE TONGUE MAY PROVIDE A MOVING EXPERIENCE--AS WELL AS OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION FOR PATIENTS WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURIES OR OTHER DISABILITIES. IT'S THE "TONGUE DRIVE"--DEVELOPED BY ENGINEERS AT THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY: A TINY MAGNET, SMALLER THAN MOST TONGUE-PIERCINGS, IS ATTACHED TO THE TONGUE; IT TURNS THE TONGUE'S MOVEMENTS INTO "COMMAND CENTRAL" TO DIRECT A COMPUTER CURSOR, OR EVEN A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR. THE MAGNETIC SIGNAL IS PICKED UP BY SENSORS INSIDE A MOUTH BRACE--OR ON A HEADSET WORN BY THE PATIENT. WHAT MAKES THIS DEVICE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IS THAT THE TONGUE IS CONTROLLED DIRECTLY BY THE BRAIN--AND GENERALLY REMAINS FUNCTIONAL, EVEN WHEN THE PATIENT HAS SUFFERED SEVERE SPINAL-CORD DAMAGE OR NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE. THE NEXT STEP IS HAVING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TEST THE SYSTEM. MOBILITY, COMMUNICATION, FREEDOM: FOR MANY, THESE MAY BE RIGHT ON THE TIP OF THEIR TONGUE. THE "DISCOVERY FILES" COVERS PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU! LEARN MORE AT "N-S-F"-DOT-GOV--OR ON THEIR PODCAST.
For additional "Discovery Files" features from the National Science Foundation, click here.
