Release date: 2009-04-21
Recently, a team from the Perceptual Communication Group at MIT has created a haptic device that transforms sound waves into tactile sensations, allowing users to "feel" speech by converting subtle vocal cues into physical vibrations. This innovative approach helps overcome the limitations of lip reading, which can be unreliable due to unclear consonants like 'p' and 'b'. The device is significantly less invasive than cochlear implants and was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Ted Morum, a researcher from the Perceptual Exchange Group, and Charlotte Reid, a senior researcher at MIT’s Electronic Research Laboratory, are working on software that can run on smartphones, turning them into accessible haptic aids for the deaf. This system allows users to interpret sounds through different vibration patterns, making it easier to understand speech. The software requires only a microphone and a basic vibration motor, making it widely available to anyone with a smartphone.
Lip reading, while useful, has its limitations. It demands intense focus and can be challenging in casual conversations. With this new technology, users can receive real-time feedback through vibrations, making communication more natural and efficient. The current prototype offers two distinct vibration ranges—high and low frequency—allowing users to differentiate between various sounds based on touch.
The device can be worn in the hand or around the neck, and once the software is fully developed, it could easily integrate into existing smart devices. Researchers are continuously exploring ways to improve how sound is translated into tactile feedback. Studies have shown that while the human ear can detect frequencies above 20,000 Hz, the skin is most sensitive to vibrations below 500 Hz. Using a lab prototype, Morum tested how effectively these vibrations could be perceived and interpreted.
This project was initially inspired by Tadoma, a technique used by blind individuals to communicate by touching another person's face and neck to feel vibrations during speech. Decades ago, research showed that people who are both deaf and blind could successfully use Tadoma when speech was clear and slow. Today, this technology aims to bring similar benefits to the hearing impaired in a more modern and portable form.
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