Ambient Corporation demonstrates silent phone communication using TI's
ultra- low power MSP430 MCU technology
DALLAS, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambient Corporation today gave the
first live demonstration of how its new technology, the Audeo, will enable
voiceless communication either face-to-face or via phone. The Audeo, based
on ultra-low power MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) technology from Texas
Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN), will offer life-changing options
for people who have lost the ability to move or speak due to neurological
disorders, Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), traumatic
brain injury, cerebral palsy or Parkinson's. To see a video of this
technology in action, please visit http://www.ti.com/tidc08multimedia.
"The Audeo can enable voiceless communication that is virtually as easy
as just thinking about it," said Michael Callahan, CEO and co-founder of
Ambient Corporation. "Historically, every time it becomes easier for people
to communicate, people become more connected and the interactions enrich
people's lives. It is our hope that the Audeo will allow many more profound
ideas to change the world through communication."
The Audeo is a wireless sensor worn on the neck to capture neurological
activity that the brain sends to the vocal cords, and then digitizes this
activity using analog and digital technology to turn it into speech. Thanks
to the extremely low power consumption of TI's MSP430 MCUs, the Audeo can
last over eight hours on a single charge, giving people the ability to
interact with their world knowing they will be able to communicate.
During a keynote presentation at the Texas Instruments Developer
Conference (TIDC), Ambient's Callahan demonstrated this technology by using
the Audeo to place the world's first, voiceless cellphone call to Mike
Hames, TI's Senior Vice President of Application Specific Products (ASP).
The Audeo takes information gathered from the sensor worn on the neck and
sends this information to a mobile phone using Bluetooth(R) wireless
technology.
"Ambient is at the forefront of innovative technology that will enable
people to communicate in entirely new ways," said Hames. "Whether helping
give the gift of communication to someone who has lost the ability to
speak, or allowing consumers to communicate voicelessly via cellphone in
environments not conducive to conversation, TI is committed to helping
customers like Ambient who are solving problems that change the world."
In addition to this innovative speech technology, by incorporating the
Audeo with additional hardware, Ambient has successfully controlled a
wheelchair without the need of physical movement. Ambient expects that its
first product to enable speech for individuals with ALS will be available
before the end of 2008. For more information, please visit
http://www.theaudeo.com.
TI enables innovation with broad range of controllers
From ultra-low-power MCUs from its MSP430 platform and 32-bit general
purpose ARM7-based MCUs from the TMS470 platform, to high performance
TMS320C2000TM DSP platform of digital signal controllers, TI offers
designers the broadest range of embedded control solutions. Designers can
also accelerate their design to market by tapping into TI's complete
software and hardware tools, extensive third-party offerings and technical
support. For more information on the broad range of TI's controllers, see
http://www.ti.com/mcu.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and
develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer,
greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through
manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 25 countries. For
more information, go to http://www.ti.com.
Trademarks
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All
other trademarks and registered trademarks belong to their respective
owners.
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