When it comes to designing assistive technology, listening matters just as much as engineering That’s something the team at Augmental understands well. Speaking about the company’s groundbreaking device, the MouthPad^, Virgie Hoban offers an inside look at how this small, tongue-operated interface is redefining digital access for users with limited mobility, and potentially for all of us.
From its beginnings in user-led design to the ongoing development of new features, Virgie shares how the MouthPad^ came to be, and where it’s headed next.
The humble computer mouse has served us for decades, but its design has barely evolved. For many, it’s a tool taken for granted. For others, particularly those without hand mobility, it’s a daily challenge, a point of friction between intention and action. Augmental, a forward-thinking assistive technology company based in San Francisco, decided to challenge that status quo, not with minor tweaks, but with a radical reimagining of the human-computer interface.
Their solution? The MouthPad^, a Bluetooth-enabled touchpad that fits discreetly inside the mouth and allows users to control digital devices using their tongue and head movements.
It may sound like science fiction, but for those who’ve used it, it’s a deeply practical reality. Client, Esther Klang said in her blog [The MouthPad^] has not only restored my independence but also empowered me to perform tasks that were once out of reach . . . The happiness, joy, and satisfaction I experienced when I took a picture and recorded a video for the first time cannot be described. This simple act may seem insignificant to most people, but it meant the world to me.”
The inspiration behind the MouthPad^ came, in part, from an unlikely source: a diagram that co-founder Tomás Vega had seen in a neuroscience class called the homunculus, which maps how much brainpower is devoted to different parts of the body. The hands dominate, but interestingly, the tongue comes a close second.
That insight sparked a question for Tomás and his co-founder, Corten Singer: if the tongue is so neurologically gifted, why aren’t we using it more creatively in digital contexts?
With backgrounds in cognitive science and computer science, they had long been building assistive devices—wheelchairs with obstacle sensors, head-tracking software, eye-tracking tools. But they kept running into the same limitations: many existing tools were awkward, highly dependent on external equipment and often performed poorly in less-than-ideal environments. Eye-tracking in bright sunlight, for example, can be unreliable. Head-mounted devices draw unwanted attention. Voice dictation lacks privacy. The solution needed to be intuitive, discreet and flexible. So, they looked inward, quite literally, and created the MouthPad^.
How it works
Each MouthPad^ is custom-made using a 3D dental scan. The device fits comfortably against the roof of the mouth, similar to a retainer. Within that small footprint lies a capacitive touchpad that responds to tongue movements with remarkable precision. A light tap can act as a click. A directional sweep becomes a drag. It even supports “sip” gestures for right-clicking and includes a built-in motion sensor to allow for head-tracking. This allows users to choose their preferred cursor mode. The point is choice, the freedom to engage with technology on one’s own terms.
The device connects wirelessly to any Bluetooth-compatible hardware—computers, phones, tablets, even smart TVs—and functions like a standard mouse, translating user input into familiar commands.
It also charges in a compact case, designed for ease of use. Some users are able to pick up the device from the case independently with their mouth, while others require assistance.
Built with people, not just for people
When Augmental began developing the MouthPad^, they prioritised user input. They conducted extensive interviews to understand how people interacted with technology, what their pain points were and where current assistive tools were falling short.
One of the clearest insights? Many tools are not only physically demanding but socially intrusive. Devices that sit on or around the face or require exaggerated movements, can make people feel exposed. Another common frustration was the lack of privacy, particularly with voice dictation. One interviewee noted how having to speak their thoughts aloud, especially in public or shared spaces, created emotional fatigue.
Privacy became a core design principle, along with comfort and precision. And the feedback didn’t stop at the early stages. In fact, many of the MouthPad^’s most popular features were inspired directly by users:
- A directional pad system for tongue-tracking was developed during a week-long hackathon with a gamer who recommended the system and understood the value of smooth, responsive input.
- A ratcheting mechanism that allows users to re-centre the cursor without having to look away or reposition their head, particularly useful for navigating large or multiple screens.
- Upcoming tongue gesture shortcuts and user setting profiles, which will allow for customised configurations across devices, are also being added based on user suggestions.
“I love the MouthPad^ because it finally feels like an interface that moves at the speed of thought. You can read freely without worrying about accidental clicks, and when you’re ready to act — it’s just a tongue tap. It gives back that sense of control.” — Virgie Hoban, Communications & Operations, Augmental
Expanding possibility
The MouthPad^ was designed with individuals who have limited or no hand mobility in mind including users with quadriplegia as a result of spinal cord injuries, ALS, or other conditions. But its appeal is beginning to stretch beyond the disability community.
Musicians, surgeons, lab technicians, even astronauts have expressed interest in the device for hands-free control during complex tasks. Anywhere precision is needed, and hands are occupied or unavailable, the MouthPad^ presents a compelling alternative.
There’s also a future-facing dimension to this. Augmental is currently developing MouthPad^ Whisper, a new version of the device that integrates a microphone and additional sensors to capture speech with barely any sound. The goal is to enable people to “speak” inaudibly, through breath, tongue movement or a whisper, and still issue commands or type text. Ideal for quiet environments like libraries, classrooms or public transport, it also caters to those who rely on voice assistants but lack a private setting to use them comfortably.
At its heart, Augmental’s mission is simple: build technology that adapts to people, not the other way around. Every mouth is different. Every user is different. And the design reflects that. Whether it’s improving comfort for individuals with few teeth, refining gesture recognition or building devices in small batches to ensure quality, the MouthPad^ is as much about craftsmanship as it is about innovation.
The future of computing for Augmental is focused on removing barriers, quietly, thoughtfully and, in this case, one tap of the tongue at a time.
Visit https://www.augmental.tech/ to learn more.