Sony files for TONGUE TRACKING Patent for controlling computer programs

I don't even know what to say to this one I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried , but I guess we will have to wait & see where this will lead to.


http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=3&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%22sony+computer%22&OS=%22sony+computer%22&RS=%22sony+computer%22




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TONGUE TRACKING INTERFACE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER PROGRAM

Abstract A tongue tracking interface apparatus for control of a computer program may include a mouthpiece configured to be worn over one or more teeth of a user of the computer program. The mouthpiece can include one or more sensors configured to determine one or more tongue orientation characteristics of the user. Other sensors such as microphones, pressure sensors, etc. located around the head, face, and neck, can also be used for determining tongue orientation characteristics.

 1. A tongue tracking interface apparatus for control of a computer program, comprising: a mouthpiece configured to be worn over one or more teeth of a user of the computer program, the mouthpiece including one or more sensors configured to determine one or more tongue orientation characteristics of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a caged magnetic ball that may be manipulated with the user's tongue, the caged magnetic ball having an associated magnetic field.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a pressure sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a thermal camera.

5. A tongue tracking interface apparatus for control of a computer program, comprising: a headset to be worn by a user of the computer program, the headset including one or more sensors configured to determine one or more tongue orientation characteristics of the user.

6. The tongue tracking interface apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors include two microphones, each microphone being located on the tip of a corresponding earphone of the headset, the microphones being configured to determine one or more tongue orientation characteristics of the user.

7. The tongue tracking interface apparatus of claim 6, further comprising two stethoscope acoustic sensors, each stethoscope acoustic sensor being located at the center of a corresponding earphone, the stethoscope acoustic sensors being configured to detect sound generated by movement of the user's jaw.

8. The tongue tracking interface apparatus of claim 6, further comprising one or more additional microphones, the additional microphones being located at a contact point between the headset and the user's chin, the microphone being configured to detect sound generated by movement of the user's jaw. "