Augmental’s MouthPad Revolutionizes Hands-Free Computing
Augmental, a San Francisco-based startup, has transformed its experimental MouthPad into a publicly available product across the United States. Following its early access release in 2024, over 100 users, including artists, gamers, and professionals with mobility challenges, have embraced the device. This innovative interface sits snugly against the roof of your mouth like a slim dental retainer and is designed for extensive daily use, sometimes up to 16 hours.
Using pressure-sensitive technology, the MouthPad interprets tongue movements as cursor commands. Motion sensors detect head gestures, allowing you to click, scroll, swipe, and drag. A sipping motion provides additional input, and its Bluetooth connectivity ensures compatibility with phones, tablets, and computers. The MouthPad is transforming everyday tongue movement into precise cursor control.
Expanding Beyond Cursor Control
The second-generation MouthPad evolves from a mere mouse substitute into a versatile controller. It maps tongue gestures to keyboard shortcuts and adapts to WASD controls for gaming or 3D modeling. Impressively lightweight at just 10 grams, the updated device offers over seven hours of battery life. It also pairs with multiple devices, switching seamlessly between them with the press of a button.
Discover a different kind of interface as OnePlus takes on Apple with innovative compact tablet technology.
More than 6,300 individuals, including surgeons and mechanics, are on its waiting list. Tomás Baptista, a user, demonstrated a speed of 10.47 bits per second in a cursor task, a performance rivaling advanced brain-computer interfaces, all without surgical intervention. The MouthPad provides precise control while maintaining a simple, non-invasive design.
Introducing VOX: The Silent Communicator
Augmental’s new addition, VOX, is a pendant that acts as an ‘invisible keyboard’ to transform subtle speech into text. Resembling a stethoscope, VOX captures sound via the air and body, filtering out environmental noise for clear dictation in quiet or bustling settings like libraries or crowded cafes.
VOX records when prompted, either by pressing the pendant or using a programmed tongue gesture with the MouthPad. This selective activation bypasses the constant listening of typical voice assistants, offering privacy and convenience. Together, the MouthPad and VOX present part of Augmental’s Skinware—a novel human-computer interface system that moves beyond traditional mice and keyboards.
Explore how innovative design pushes boundaries with Orion Sleep System’s AI temp control, offering futuristic comfort solutions.
Users navigate with tongue and head gestures
Individual wearable is crafted through dental scanning
Innovative Interfaces and Pricing
Co-founders Tomás Vega and Corten Singer have positioned Augmental’s inventions as leading wearable interfaces. These devices offer a seamless integration of technology with the human body, priced at $1,400 for the MouthPad—excluding dental scanning—and $200 for VOX during its beta release.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Augmental’s MouthPad?
The MouthPad is an innovative interface that sits snugly against the roof of your mouth like a slim dental retainer. It uses pressure-sensitive technology to interpret tongue movements as cursor commands, and motion sensors to detect head gestures for actions like clicking and scrolling.
How does the VOX pendant work?
VOX is a pendant that acts as an ‘invisible keyboard’ to transform subtle speech into text. It captures sound via the air and body, filtering out environmental noise for clear dictation, and can be activated by pressing the pendant or using a programmed tongue gesture with the MouthPad.
How much does Augmental’s MouthPad cost?
The MouthPad is priced at $1,400, excluding the cost of dental scanning.