Incredible New Invention Is Teaching the Tongue to 'Hear' Sounds
A research team at Colorado State University has come up with a unique alternative to hearing loss. They’ve turned to a different part of the body — the tongue.
Their developing device uses the tongue’s nerves to interpret electrical signals, according to Popular Science. Audio, such as a particular word, is taken from an earpiece microphone and turned into electrical signals that are sent to a mouthpiece using Bluetooth technology. The mouthpiece then creates a signal or pattern on the tongue that represents the spoken word. Eventually, the brain will subconsciously identify a pattern as signifying a specific word.
Dr. John Williams, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and JJ Moritz, a graduate student, have spent a year testing prototypes, according to The Telegraph. They’re in the process of filing a provisional patent and launching a company to sell the device.
“I’d like to make a good impact on the world and maybe change some people’s lives,” Moritz says in the video below.
Check out this revolutionary device in the video below:
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Melissa McGlensey is the former News Editor at The Mighty. Her writing can also be seen in Ms. Magazine, on the Ms.Magazine blog and in The Huffington Post’s Good News, Comedy and Impact sections. Melissa is also a New York City comedian who does sketch, improv and stand up. She is passionate about social justice, politics, Thai food, literature, disability rights and more. She is currently in a long-distance relationship with her cat, Sneakers, who lives in California. You can follow her on twitter at @OhHeyMeliss.
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