Osaka University Develops Device to Operate Electronics by Clenching Teeth

Great news for disabled un-friendly Japan.

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a device that looks like a headband that will enable disabled people to operate music players, electric wheelchairs and other devices simply by clenching their back teeth.

"When people wearing it squeeze their back teeth

together, the built-in sensors detect the muscles over the temples moving higher, and the microcomputers send signals to activate the electronic appliance they are linked to."

The research team has succeeded in turning portable CD players on and off.

The temples react differently when the back teeth are clenched from when the user is simply eating.

By employing different rythyms users can send up to four different types of signals.

Turn on…turn off, check e-mail, dial phone, fast-forward, rewind….

Now if Japan would just love their disabled population a bit more, eh?