New Electronic Device Developed to Help Mute People Talk

New Electronic Device Developed to Help Mute People Talk
TT

New Electronic Device Developed to Help Mute People Talk

New Electronic Device Developed to Help Mute People Talk

Two Chinese researchers have created a prototype device that can be taped to the skin to measure the motions and vibrations of the vocal cords and transform them into sounds.

The researchers also improved the device so it becomes thinner and lighter, so when attached to the neck like a temporary tattoo, it doesn't cause the wearer any discomfort, the German News Agency reported.

According to the ACS Nano journal, speech is actually a complex process that involves both motions of the mouth and vibrations of folded tissues, called vocal cords, within the throat. If the vocal cords sustain injuries or other lesions, a person can lose the ability to speak.

Researchers He Tian, Yi Yang, Tian-Ling Ren and colleagues used graphene on a thin sheet of polyvinyl alcohol film. The flexible device measured 0.6 by 1.2 inches, or about double the size of a person's thumbnail.

The researchers used water to attach the film to the skin over a volunteer's throat and connected it with electrodes to a small armband that contained a circuit board, microcomputer, power amplifier and decoder.

The Science Daily website reported that the instrument converts the throat's movements into emitted sounds, such as the words "OK" and "No."

The researchers say that, in the future, mute people could be trained to generate signals with their throats that the device would translate into speech.



A Stowaway Groundhog is Elevated to Local Icon in Pennsylvania

In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
TT

A Stowaway Groundhog is Elevated to Local Icon in Pennsylvania

In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)

A Pennsylvania groundhog is making a name for himself for something other than predicting an early or late spring, The Associated Press reported.
An intrepid varmint dubbed Colonel Custard — so named for the frozen custard shop and mini-golf outlet where he was discovered — was found stowed away with a passel of stuffed animals prizes in an arcade game two weeks ago. Players were maneuvering a mechanical claw to pluck toys from the glass game case when they suddenly realized a real live groundhog was blinking back at them.

The newly named colonel was found in Hollidaysburg, a good hour's drive from Pennsylvania's far more famous groundhog town, Punxsutawney, home to the weather-predicting groundhog Phil.
The owners and staff at The Meadows frozen custard shop aren't being shy about promoting their own furry friend.

Staff and owners made T-shirts that read “Respect the Groundhog,” held the online naming campaign that drew an avalanche of responses and are working on more promotional ideas, such as naming one of their frozen treat flavors for Colonel Custard.
Meadows manager Lynn Castle said no one is sure how the groundhog got in the building, but he must have clambered up the game chute into the machine.
“They were just staring at the stuffed animals in there getting ready to decide what to pick and saw the groundhog's eyes blinking and realized there was something alive in there,” AP quoted Castle as saying.
It took a village to set the varmint free. Employees first called the claw machine owners, who were too skittish to take the colonel on. Next came the police, who called the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Game wardens opened up the claw machine and released the groundhog into a nearby field, Castle said.
“It’s a good story that ended well,” Castle said. “He got set free. No one got bit.”