Voiceless control: World’s first, live voiceless phone call

Device offers communication, motion control via thought. Think of the applications….

By Control Engineering Staff March 6, 2008

Dallas, TX – Ambient Corp. gave the first live demonstration of how its new technology, the

Audeo

, will enable voiceless communication either face-to-face or via phone. The Audeo, based on ultra-low power

TI MSP430 microcontroller (MCU)

technology from Texas Instruments Inc. will offer life-changing options for people who have lost the ability to move or speak due to neurological disorders, Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s.

TI offers a video of voiceless communication

.

In addition to this innovative speech technology, by incorporating the Audeo with additional hardware, Ambient has successfully controlled a wheelchair without the need of physical movement. Ambient expects that its first product to enable speech for individuals with ALS will be available before the end of 2008. Look for a video demonstrating the Audeo wheelchair on CEtv.

“The Audeo can enable voiceless communication that is virtually as easy as just thinking about it,” said Michael Callahan, CEO and co-founder of Ambient Corp.

The Audeo is a wireless sensor worn on the neck to capture neurological activity that the brain sends to the vocal cords, and then digitizes this activity using analog and digital technology to turn it into speech. With the low power consumption of

TI

‘s MSP430 MCUs, the Audeo can last over eight hours per charge, giving people ability to interact with their world.

During a keynote presentation at the

Texas Instruments

Developer Conference (TIDC) on Feb. 26, Ambient’s Callahan demonstrated this technology by using Audeo to place the world’s first, voiceless cellphone call to Mike Hames, TI’s senior vice president of application specific products (ASP).

— Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief Control Engineering System Integration eNewsletter Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free .