Secret Speech Aid

November 23, 2004 | Source: ScienCentral

NASA engineers are developing technology that picks up and translates throat signals into words before they’re even spoken, using subvocal speech.

Electrodes picks up electromyographic signals near the chin and larnyx, which are amplified and processed with neural network software to decipher word patterns.

Applications could include speech ailments, covert communication in military operations, private speech between individuals, situations where you can’t speak normally (underwater or in fire gear or where there’s high noise or you have a respirator … or the killer app: a silent cell phone.