Tomás Vega SM '19, driven by his childhood experience with stuttering and a passion for human augmentation, has been using technology to enhance human capabilities since the age of 12. As the co-founder and CEO of Augmental, Vega is now deploying innovative solutions that empower people with movement impairments to seamlessly interact with their personal computational devices.
Augmental's flagship product, the MouthPad, is a groundbreaking device that allows users to control their computers, smartphones, and tablets through tongue and head movements. The MouthPad features a pressure-sensitive touch pad that sits on the roof of the mouth, which, in conjunction with a pair of motion sensors, translates tongue and head gestures into cursor scrolling and clicks in real-time via Bluetooth. By leveraging the brain's significant devotion to controlling tongue position and the tongue's slow-twitch muscle fibers, the MouthPad provides a fatigue-resistant and intuitive interface for device interaction.
The MouthPad is already making a significant impact on the lives of people with spinal cord injuries, enabling them to interact with their favorite devices independently. One user, a college student living with quadriplegia, has found the device invaluable for writing math formulas and studying in the library, where other assistive speech-based devices were not appropriate. The increased independence and ability to participate in activities like note-taking and gaming with friends have been life-changing for this user and many others.
Vega's journey to creating Augmental began during his time as a graduate student at MIT's Media Lab, where he joined the Fluid Interfaces research group led by Pattie Maes. The Media Lab provided Vega with the perfect environment to apply his engineering and neuroscience background, develop wearable devices, and explore innovative solutions without fear. An internship at Neuralink led Vega to seek an alternative to brain implants, recognizing the limitations and long development timeline associated with such technology.
In his final semester at MIT, Vega built a prototype device to test the mouth as a medium for computer interaction, which proved highly successful. With the support of MIT resources such as the Venture Mentoring Service, the MIT I-Corps program, and crucial early funding from MIT's E14 Fund, Vega and his co-founder, Corten Singer, officially launched Augmental upon Vega's graduation in 2019.
Augmental generates each MouthPad design using a 3D model based on a scan of the user's mouth, ensuring a customized and comfortable fit. The retainer is 3-D printed using dental-grade materials, and electronic components are added to enable the device's functionality. The MouthPad offers a multimodal interface, accommodating users with varying levels of tongue and neck control, allowing them to choose the gestures that work best for their individual needs.
As Augmental continues to innovate and improve its technology, the company is working towards gaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance to expand the MouthPad's capabilities, such as controlling wheelchairs and robotic arms. FDA clearance will also unlock insurance reimbursements for users, making the device more accessible to those who need it most. With plans to develop a version that responds to whispers and subtle movements of internal speech organs, Augmental is committed to providing an always-available, robust, and private interface to intelligence that can benefit everyone in the evolving digital world.
