About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Research News

MIT Attempting to Help The Deaf Read Lips Better

by Tanya on March 02, 2009 at 10:45 AM Research News

The deaf may soon 'hear' if researchers at MIT's Sensory Communication Group turn out to be successful in developing their new generation of tactile devices. These, they say, will convert sound waves into vibrations which will enable the deaf to feel them by their skin; this will help them read lips more accurately.

Related Links

This work attains significance considering the fact that lip-reading has a drawback: Certain consonants (for example, p and b) can be nearly impossible to distinguish by sight alone.

Once developed, the researchers say, the devices they are working on will be particularly prove an important tool for deaf people who rely on lip reading, and can't use or afford cochlear implants.

"Most deaf people will not have access to that technology in our lifetime. Tactile devices can be several orders of magnitude cheaper than cochlear implants," said Ted Moallem, a graduate student working on the project.

In collaboration with Charlotte Reed, senior research scientist in MIT's Research Laboratory of Electronics, Moallem is developing a software programme that can be compatible with current smart phones, allowing such devices to be transformed into unobtrusive tactile aids for the deaf.

"Anyone who has a smart phone already has much of what they would need to run the program," including a microphone, digital signal-processing capability, and a rudimentary vibration system, says Moallem.

The MIT researchers are testing devices that have at least two vibration ranges, one for high-frequency sounds and one for low-frequency sounds.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

By Century End, Indian Monsoon To Be Adversely Affected By Global Warming

Ethiopian Refugee Seeks to Infect Obama With HIV; Sends Infected Blood to Office

More News on: Hearing Aids

Comment & Contribute

Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

LetRVoiceBHeard

03/02/2009

Wow what a wonderful thing. Hope this becomes a reality as I am sure lots of individuals could use such a thing.

Reply | Forward

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54968
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

Five More Patients Die as Doctors' Strike Continues in AP

Imogen Thomas Seeks Hypnotherapy To Get Rid of Cake Addiction

Website To Promote Premarital Virginity Launched in China

Excessive Consumption of Phosphate Pose Risk To Health

RSBY to Provide Health Insurance for 66,000 J&K Families

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

News Categories:


»	RSBY to Provide Health Insurance for 66,000 J&K Families

»	Same-sex Couples in US can Now Access Health Insurance

»	Bill on Insurance Premium for Farmers Approved by Poland Cabinet

»	Co-contribution On The Rise For Group Insurance

»	Obama Takes Mid-way Out of Contraception Health Insurance Row
More Insurance News

Research Related News
»	Study Provides Evidence of Malaria's Impact on Fetal Growth	»	Research Sheds Light on Usefulness of Bubble-Propelled Microrockets
»	Research Details How Deadly Bird Parasite Evolves at a Fast Rate	»	Peptides That Could Lead to Universal Influenza Vaccine Identified
»	Video-Based Home Exercise Able to Ease Osteoarthritis Pain and Perk Up Mobility	»	Memory Enhancement by Stimulating Key Spot in Brain
»	Substance P Causes Seizures in People With Pork Tapeworm	»	Neighboring 'Finger Nerve Cells' Render Middle Finger Slowest

Read More >>

Adolescent Depression Support Group	Agoraphobia Support Group	Alcohol abuse / Alcohol dependence / Alcoholism Support Group
Alcohol and Driving Support Group	Anorexia Nervosa Support Group	Anxiety Disorder Support Group
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Support Group	Binge Eating : The Pleasure and Pain Support Group	Bruxism / Tooth Grinding / Jaw Clenching / Teeth Clenching / Parasomnia Support Group

MIT Attempting to Help The Deaf Read Lips Better

Medwonders Health Network

Research Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories