Assistive technologies are pivotal for individuals with severe disabilities, enabling them to lead more independent lives. Those affected by conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, or cerebral palsy often struggle with daily tasks without constant assistance. Assistive technologies play a crucial role in facilitating communication, environmental control, and computer operation, significantly enhancing their quality of life and potentially opening doors to employment opportunities.
mTDS (multimodal Tongue Drive System) is an innovative assistive technology I developed from inception — including hardware, firmware, and advanced signal processing and machine learning algorithms — designed specifically for severely paralyzed individuals (quadriplegics). The system enables wheelchair control, environmental interactions such as light and air conditioning adjustments, and full computer and phone operation through combined speech, tongue, and head motions. Tongue commands handle mouse clicks, speech recognition powers dictation, and head tracking drives cursor navigation. Human trials were conducted to assess system performance, with statistical analyses demonstrating comparable quality of life outcomes to those without disabilities.
This PhD research has since evolved beyond the lab into a real-world commercial product. The technology developed through mTDS forms the foundation of Kinemo — a company building customizable, discrete, and intuitive hands-free control devices for people with limited upper-body mobility. Kinemo’s motion sensors attach to any body part using skin-safe stickers, and a free companion app lets users assign specific gestures to actions like mouse movement, scrolling, key presses, and switch control — pairing wirelessly with computers, smartphones, tablets, and power wheelchairs.
Kinemo’s current product lineup includes:
Kinemo One — a single-sensor wearable body switch supporting up to 3 configurable actions, designed to work with head or eye tracking systems, switch control, and other assistive devices.
Kinemo Connect — an all-in-one alternative controller using one body gesture for cursor movement and up to three additional body parts mapped to 18 configurable actions, enabling users to independently operate all their digital devices.
Kinemo empowers individuals living with spinal cord injury, ALS, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and other conditions to regain independence — from attending college and checking emails to practicing law and controlling a power wheelchair.
Check out the demo videos below for a closer look at its capabilities:
Media and News:
09/01/2018 https://mobilitymgmt.com/Articles/2018/09/01/Tongue-Drive-System.aspx?Page=1
11/01/2017 https://www.ece.gatech.edu/news/598197/gt-bionics-lab-selected-acrm-conference-honors