Connect with us

Technology

MouthPad, the first-ever tongue trackpad, launches to the public alongside new wearable, Vox

Published

3 months ago

on

Augmental opens public U.S. sales for the MouthPad and introduces its next wearable, Vox: a privacy-first mic pendant for voice-driven computing.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Augmental today announces the public U.S. launch of the MouthPad, its tongue-driven computer mouse, and, at the same time, releases a beta of its “invisible keyboard,” Vox.

Augmental opens public U.S. MouthPad sales and introduces VOX, a privacy-first mic pendant for voice-driven computing.

First launched via an Early Access program in 2024, the MouthPad is a hands-free Bluetooth mouse that lets users control phones, tablets, and computers using tongue, head, and “sip” gestures. The device is currently used by over 100 people living with mobility challenges, including students, artists, and gamers, for up to 16 hours a day by some users.

“I game better, work faster, and life’s just easier,” said MouthPad user Tomás Baptista. “But best of all, when I use my computer, I no longer feel like my limitations hold me back.”

Custom-made for each user, the MouthPad fits over the upper teeth, like a slim retainer. The device features a pressure-sensitive trackpad on the palate as well as head-based motion sensing, enabling hands-free cursor control, clicks, swipes, and other gestures, customizable in the companion app.

Augmental released the second generation of the MouthPad earlier this year, expanding the platform beyond the computer mouse. Users can now activate custom keyboard shortcuts with tongue gestures and remap the trackpad to WASD controls for computer gameplay, 3D modeling, and other applications. The new version also features a battery life of 7+ hours and the ability to pair with multiple devices simultaneously, with one-button device switching.

Baptista, who uses the device daily for his work as a screener analyst, recently set a new MouthPad record of 10.47 bits per second in a cursor-control task similar to Webgrid, which measures both speed and accuracy. This matches the performance of today’s state-of-the-art implanted brain-computer interfaces, which also provide hands-free pointer control but require brain surgery.

The MouthPad is now available to the public for the first time. Waitlist applicants currently number over 6,300, including surgeons, technicians, pianists, boxers, mechanics, parents, and others needing hands-free digital control.

Augmental introduces Vox, the “invisible keyboard”

Behind the scenes, Augmental also developed the MouthPad’s second half, Vox — its reimagining of the keyboard.

Inspired by the stethoscope, Vox is a skin-worn mic pendant that captures sound not only through the air, but also through the body. The device also rejects more ambient noise and background conversations than conventional microphones. This allows users to dictate to their devices at much quieter volumes, from private whispers in a library to low-volume speech in a noisy cafe.

“I can speak a lot quieter and with many fewer mistakes than using the microphone built into the laptop,” said Vox tester and MouthPad user Brian McCarthy, a forest ecology professor at Ohio University.

Vox also enables wearable text input. Users can trigger Vox by pressing a button on the pendant — or, when Vox is paired with the MouthPad, using a tongue gesture — to privately dictate thoughts, send messages, or chat with AI while on the go. Designed around privacy, Vox can only be activated with a deliberate gesture, unlike with other always-listening devices.

The goal, the company says, is to finally unlock voice for controlling computers in a way that is actually usable: private, robust, and always available.

“Technology should meet humans where they are,” said Augmental CEO and Co-Founder Tomás Vega. “Not the other way around.”

Vega first identified the need for something like Vox during a summer internship at Apple, working on Siri. Because of his stutter, Vega cannot reliably use speech interfaces and was unable to effectively demo many of his projects. At low volumes, however, his stutter is greatly reduced.

Particularly in the voice AI era, the team hopes Vox will help ensure equitable access to dictation for people with limited lung function, speech impediments, or hand impairments, including current MouthPad users who rely on speech-to-text for typing.

All proceeds from the first batch of Vox’s beta release will fund MouthPads for those in need.

Looking ahead, with the MouthPad and Vox working in sync, the engineers will be able to unlock fully “silent speech” on the MouthPad: a holy grail in human-computer interaction today. By pairing acoustic data from Vox with tongue movement patterns on the MouthPad, they can build a custom speech model without the need for sound (or brain surgery).

“If you design for those who are the most constrained, you design better interfaces for everybody,” Vega said.

Together, Vox and the MouthPad form an ecosystem of wearables Augmental calls Skinware: body-coupled interfaces that let people control computers and AI more naturally. The interfaces meld intimately and invisibly with the human body — unlike today’s pins, glasses, and LED wearables — improving signal quality, comfort, and expression in the digital world.

Vox is currently in beta and costs $200, with units expected to ship by late 2026. The MouthPad costs $1,400, not including the required dental scan (approximately $100). Both ship within six months and are available at https://augmental.tech

About Augmental:

Augmental is a frontier human-machine interface lab building next-generation wearables. Its products include the MouthPad, a tongue-controlled computer mouse, and Vox, an on-the-go voice keyboard. The team hails from the MIT Media Lab, UC Berkeley Neural Engineering, iota Biosciences, Neuralink, Apple Siri, Microsoft HoloLens, Fitbit, and Google. Augmental’s mission is to augment human ability and enable more equitable access to the digital world.

Press Kit:

https://storage.googleapis.com/augmental-static-assets/Augmental_Press_Release_Jul_22_2026.zip

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mouthpad-the-first-ever-tongue-trackpad-launches-to-the-public-alongside-new-wearable-vox-302832412.html

SOURCE Augmental

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Technology

EBSCO Clinical Decisions Appoints Paul Tuten as Executive Vice President

Published

1 minute ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

~ Seasoned health IT executive and former ONC advisor to lead EBSCO Clinical Decisions as it advances its mission to bring trusted evidence to clinicians at the point of care.~

IPSWICH, Mass., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — EBSCO Clinical Decisions today announced the appointment of Paul Tuten as its Executive Vice President. In his role, Tuten will oversee all aspects of EBSCO Clinical Decisions, including strategy, content, product development, and growth. His priorities include advancing the organization’s point-of-care strategy and expanding partnerships that bring expert-vetted DynaMed® content directly into the workflows, platforms, and AI-enabled tools clinicians use every day.

“Paul’s strong and even-handed leadership is an incredible asset as we work to deliver intelligent, evidence-based tools that elevate care delivery,” said Roy Ziegelstein, MD, MACP, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Medical Officer of DynaMed. “His deep technical expertise and track record in academic publishing will help us take the next step in building and delivering trustworthy, evidence-based solutions for clinicians that integrate natively into their daily workflows, reducing friction and improving care when and where it matters most.”

Tuten joined the company in 2025 as Executive Vice President and Chief Platform Officer at EBSCO Information Services, focused on accelerating scalable growth of EBSCO’s advanced knowledge services. Prior to joining, he was Chief Product and Technology Officer at Taylor & Francis, where he led a global team in driving digital transformation and enhancing data governance, analytics, and platform-centric customer experiences in service to academic researchers. Tuten previously built and repositioned health IT organizations focused on clinical data exchange, patient safety, quality measurement, and revenue cycle management, including at Quantros (now part of RLDatix and Healthcare Bluebook), RxAnte, and ABILITY Network (now part of Inovalon). He holds a PhD in Information Systems from Nova Southeastern University.

“For too long, clinical decision support has worked like a paper map. Useful, but only if you pull over to review it and already know where you are. Clinicians need something closer to GPS, seamlessly integrated into the car and proactively guiding them in real time without having to take their eyes off the road,” said Tuten. “At EBSCO Clinical Decisions, our job is to get trusted clinical knowledge everywhere care is delivered. But like GPS, clinical decision support is only as good as the information behind it. With AI tools multiplying and published research outpacing peer review, it’s never mattered more that human experts decide what evidence informs it. I’m excited to help bring this vision to life and set a new standard for point-of-care delivery.”

Tuten has also advised the federal government on health information exchange and interoperability as a Senior Advisor to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In that role, he supported the HITECH Act’s Meaningful Use program and served as a government liaison to EHR vendors on certification criteria.

To learn more about EBSCO Clinical Decisions, click here. 

About EBSCO Clinical Decisions

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) helps people find, access, and apply trusted information. Through its EBSCO Clinical Decisions suite of products, EBSCO delivers evidence-based clinical decision-support solutions designed to help healthcare professionals answer clinical questions, support informed decisions, and improve patient care.

EBSCO Clinical Decisions combines trusted clinical content with advanced technologies to support healthcare organizations and clinicians across clinical decision-making, patient care, learning, and research. The suite is designed to provide current, evidence-based information within the clinical workflow, helping healthcare professionals find the answers they need when they need them. For more information, visit www.clinicaldecisions.com. Visit our blog at Health Notes or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ebsco-clinical-decisions-appoints-paul-tuten-as-executive-vice-president-302918867.html

SOURCE EBSCO Information Services

Continue Reading

Technology

College Board Launches AP Cybersecurity to Prepare Students to Protect the Digital World

Published

1 minute ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

New high school course builds foundational skills for college, careers, and service as states connect cybersecurity education to national security needs

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cyber threats reach into everyday life, from scams that steal families’ savings to attacks on utilities and other essential services. Helping students understand and respond to those threats can open doors to further education, employment, and national defense service. College Board’s new AP Cybersecurity course, which was launched in high schools this fall, gives students a place to begin.

In 2025, U.S. employers posted more than half a million job listings requiring cybersecurity skills. Yet many students have little opportunity to learn about cybersecurity in high school or see where those skills could take them.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/college_board/9381153-en-college-board-launches-ap-cybersecurity

AP Cybersecurity introduces students to the work behind that demand: protecting the systems people depend on. Through practical scenarios, students assess security weaknesses, weigh risks, and investigate evidence of attacks. An assignment might ask them to evaluate threats to internet-connected farm equipment or recommend protections for computer networks aboard a naval submarine.

These assignments help students see how cybersecurity skills apply across industries and in national defense. Indiana offers an example of how those connections can take shape. The statewide Cybersecurity Partnership brings together high schools, colleges, employers, and the Indiana National Guard to help students explore routes into further education, employment, and military service.

The course and partnerships like Indiana’s address two connected needs: giving students an introduction to cybersecurity and helping them understand where continued learning could lead. For students, that connection gives classroom assignments a larger purpose. Investigating a security weakness today can be a first step toward learning how to protect a hospital, secure a business, or defend the country.

Interested in learning more? Talk to your school district or high school to see if they are offering AP Cybersecurity or visit collegeboard.org

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/college-board-launches-ap-cybersecurity-to-prepare-students-to-protect-the-digital-world-302918558.html

SOURCE College Board

Continue Reading

Technology

Alkami to Host Webinar with Thomaston Savings Bank on Using Predictive AI to Deliver Data-Driven Guidance and Accelerate Growth

Published

1 minute ago

on

October 26, 2026

By

Leaders from Alkami and Thomaston Savings Bank will discuss how financial institutions can use predictive AI and behavioral signals to drive strategic growth and strengthen account holder relationships

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alkami Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALKT) (“Alkami”), a digital sales and service platform provider for financial institutions in the U.S., today announced an upcoming webinar hosted with Thomaston Savings Bank, “Guess Less and Grow More with Predictive AI.” The webinar will take place Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET.

As account holders increasingly expect more personalized and proactive experiences, financial institutions have an opportunity to leverage data to deliver tailored guidance during every interaction. According to Alkami research, 44% of Americans who use digital banking wish their primary financial provider did a better job anticipating their financial needs and goals.1

The upcoming webinar will explore how financial institutions can respond to these expectations by using predictive artificial intelligence (AI) to drive growth across deposits and lending while strengthening primary relationships. Speakers will discuss how Alkami’s Data & Marketing Solution uses behavioral insights and predictive AI to help institutions identify growth opportunities and deliver more personalized outreach.

Featured speakers include:

Kent Blacksher, strategic account executive, AlkamiEthan O’Day, business intelligence analyst, Thomaston Savings Bank

“Data helps us understand how customers engage, but the real value comes from understanding what those behaviors may tell us about their needs,” said Ethan O’Day, business intelligence analyst, Thomaston Savings Bank. “Predictive AI can help us focus our outreach sooner and make it more relevant, while our team’s expertise keeps the work grounded in the relationships we have with our customers.”

During the session, attendees will learn how to:

Identify deposit and lending opportunities using behavioral signalsCreate more relevant outreach for customers and membersRecognize engagement and attrition signals earlierSimplify campaign execution and move from insight to actionBuild marketing strategies that support growth and retention

The presentation will explore real examples of how data-activated campaigns drive faster product adoption, along with insights into how predictive AI can help guide your team’s strategy.

“Financial institutions have more data than ever, but data creates value when teams can turn insight into action,” said Kent Blacksher, strategic account executive at Alkami. “Combining predictive AI with human expertise allows marketing teams to skip the guesswork while building stronger account holder relationships.”

To register for the webinar, visit here.

To learn more about Anticipatory Banking and the Alkami Digital Sales & Service Platform, visit here.

About Alkami
Alkami provides a digital sales and service platform for U.S. banks and credit unions. Our unified Platform integrates onboarding, digital banking, and data and marketing—each solution can stand alone, but together they deliver more—to help institutions onboard, engage, and grow relationships. As the future shifts toward Anticipatory Banking, we help data-informed bankers meet the moment with technology that drives action.

1 Alkami Proprietary Research. 2026 Digital Banking Americans Research Study. Online survey of 1,500 U.S. digital banking Americans conducted March 26–April 22, 2026.

Media Relations Contacts
Vested
alkami@fullyvested.com

Marla Pieton
marla.pieton@alkami.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alkami-to-host-webinar-with-thomaston-savings-bank-on-using-predictive-ai-to-deliver-data-driven-guidance-and-accelerate-growth-302918495.html

SOURCE Alkami Technology, Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending