This strange device will help you 'communicate' with your computer without opening your mouth

If you're a person who likes to use voice-to-text with Siri or Cortana, but be afraid to see people looking at you as if they just landed on a flying saucer, this device will definitely help you.

A group of researchers from MIT Media Experimental Center has just launched a new device called AlterEgo (roughly translated: friend of soul) . It takes the form of a mane clinging to the jaw and has "tentacles" like octopuses.

AlterEgo is shaped like a mane with "tentacles".

AlterEgo has seven "tentacles" that are essentially electrodes applied around the user's mouth. Every time the user thinks of a word to say, these words become silent signals conveying from the brain to the mouth. More specifically, it is the brain signals that travel to the muscles that control your mouth. Based on the above characteristics, 7 AlterEgo "tentacles" receive these signals in the oral areas, then send the collected data from them for processing, to the receiving device via the connection. wireless. These data will be used to order the computer to output. From there, the user can control the computer. AlterEgo also has a headset so users can hear feedback from the computer.

To be sure, the scientists, after completing the project, tested the samples on those who translated AlterEgo's software's data with one of the simple commands like "call", "pay." words "," more " . and on a few more people to see if it works correctly. The results are beyond expectations, but not enough to bring out the market.

AlterEgo when used.

After testing, the researchers found that AlterEgo has the following advantages:

1. Quite compact, easy to wear, easy to use.
2. Accuracy is up to 92%, on par with Siri or Alexa.
3. Can not read your thoughts like other devices (except the things you "mutter" yourself).

According to the research team, the AlterEgo system is completely comparable to advanced personal assistants like Cortana or Alexa. Recently, AlterEgo was brought to the International Smart User Interface Conference in March 2018 in Tokyo.

One drawback of AlterEgo makes it imperfect, its "tentacles" are too inflexible , making users feel uncomfortable talking in real life. In addition, sometimes this device easily identifies the wrong signal of the speaker. Researchers also don't rule out the possibility that AlterEgo can be hacked and . our mouths will be hijacked.

While there are still disadvantages, in some cases this device can become very useful. Commanding your phone, computer to turn off music, calculate on a spreadsheet, or write a message for you is one of the very useful commands that AlterEgo can offer. It can also use smart home controls, such as adjusting an oven or having a cup of hot coffee with just a slight mouth muscle contraction. This device will be a great achievement, helping disabled and blind people to control electronic devices in the future.