Effects of Sensory Feedback in Intra-Oral Target Selection Tasks with the Tongue

Summary, in English

Purpose: To investigate the effects of visual and tactile intra-oral sensor-position feedback for target selection tasks with the tip of the tongue. Method: Target selection tasks were performed using an inductive tongue-computer interface (ITCI). Visual feedback was established by highlighting the area on a visual display corresponding to the activated intra-oral target. Tactile feedback was established using a sensor-border matrix over the sensor plates of the ITCI, which provided sensor-position tactile queues via the user’s tongue. Target selection tasks using an on-screen keyboard by controlling the mouse pointer with the ITCI’s was also evaluated. Results: Mean target selection rates of 23, 5 and 15 activations per minute were obtained using visual, tactile and “none” feedback techniques in the 3rd training session. On-screen keyboard target selection tasks averaged 10 activations per minute in the 3rd training session. Involuntary activations while speaking or drinking were significantly reduced either through a sensor-matrix or dwell time for sensor activation. Conclusions: These results provide key design considerations to further increase the typing efficiency of tongue-computer interfaces for individuals with upper-limb mobility impairments.

• Author: Héctor Caltenco; Eugen R. Lontis; Bo Bentsen; Lotte N.S. Andreasen Struijk
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Pages: 330-339
• Publication/Series: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/17483107.2012.699991
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Topic: Other Medical Sciences not elsewhere specified
• Keywords: communication; Assistive technology; augmentative and alternative; computer interface; sensory feedback; certec
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1748-3115