While leaving your hands free for other things.

Your tongue provides much sensory input yet it is underutilized for those who are blind or (come to think of it) deaf.

The device consists of a number electronically controlled of pistons that rest on the roof of your mouth much like a retainer in a device that looks much like a retainer.

The topography of the device on the roof of your mouth changes with the information it is trying to display about your surroundings. For example, it could display braille letters in one portion of your mouth while showing off a simple walking route. It could use Sun Microsystems Jini system and talk to nearby crossing lights giving you crossing information. It could also display the weather or time in braille.

Future or other versions could come with a head mounted sonic imaging device that would display simple information like barriers or moving objects in relation to ones person. They could also use varying degrees of temperature or vibration to display information.

For deaf people the vibration could come from different quadrants as an output device to help you determine where various sound input came from, for example if someone shouts your name behind you.
-- sartep, Aug 24 2004

Brainport http://science.hows...s.com/brainport.htm
Uses a matrix of electrodes to stimulate images into the tongue [omegatron, Aug 26 2007]

Wow. (+)
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Aug 24 2004


A shot of tabasco could indicate an oncoming car.
-- Worldgineer, Aug 24 2004


(mother to her blind son)

Don't look with your mouth full!
-- GenYus, Aug 24 2004


+ Brings new meaning to the old chestnut: "He couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time."
-- krelnik, Aug 24 2004


<mandatory>I thought this was going to be a tongue-cam</mandatory>
-- neilp, Aug 24 2004


//a tongue-cam// <perv> I can imagine how that could be useful. <perv>
-- Machiavelli, Aug 24 2004


I could see issues with eating - the device could get clogged up quickly. Ever eaten gum with a brace?
-- choaderboy, Aug 24 2004


Don't eat with it in. Sorta like the same concept of taking off your glasses before you poke yourself in the eye a whole buncha times.
-- sartep, Aug 24 2004


Baked, but with electrodes instead of pistons. See link.
-- omegatron, Aug 26 2007



random, halfbakery