Project

Hackable, High-Bandwidth Sensory Augmentation

Groups

The tongue has extremely dense sensing resolution, as well as an extraordinary degree of neuroplasticity�the ability to adapt to and internalize new input. Research has shown that electro-tactile tongue displays paired with cameras can be used as vision prosthetics for the blind or visually impaired; users quickly learn to read and navigate through natural environments, and many describe the signals as an innate sense. However, existing displays are expensive and difficult to adapt. Tongueduino is an inexpensive, vinyl-cut tongue display designed to interface with many types of sensors besides cameras. Connected to a magnetometer, for example, the system provides a user with an internal sense of direction, like a migratory bird. Plugged into weighted piezo whiskers, a user can sense orientation, wind, and the lightest touch. Through Tongueduino, we hope to bring electro-tactile sensory substitution beyond vision replacement, towards open-ended sensory augmentation.