How dumb can people regain the gift of speech?
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According to the world health organization, currently there are about 466 million , not able to speak. Usually, their mutism is associated with congenital deafness — hearing the speech of adults, deaf children simply can not learn to speak. But sometimes the cause of numbness is damage to the vocal cords, causing the man knows how to pronounce the words, but simply can't articulate them. It seems that in the future some of these people again , just pasted on his neck a small film. But technology is unlikely to help every one.
People can talk due to the presence of the larynx — the area of the respiratory system, in which the authorities responsible for the education of the voice. Before playing any sound, the vocal cords of man are compressed and vibrate under the pressure coming from the lungs of air. From this sound wave due to the movement of the lips, obtained the letters, words and sentences.
Voice-producing apparatus
People with damaged vocal cords can't reproduce the sound wave, that is, almost without voice. In some cases, they can speak, pressing to his neck, the so-called voice — producing apparatus- replaces the vocal cords and produces sound waves. These devices have two disadvantages: first, the reproduced sounds are strongly reminiscent of the voice of the robot, and secondly, they need to constantly carry around and squeeze to the neck every time you need something to say.
Scheme vocalizing apparatus
Artificial larynx
Chinese scientists have invented a more convenient alternative voice-producing machines. The technology is called the Wearable Artificial Graphene Throat (WAGT), which can be translated as "wearable artificial graphene throat." It consists of a thin sticker the size of 1.5×3 cm, which with laser deposited layer of graphene. This kind of device is glued on the neck of the silent man, like children's temporary tattoo.
Diagram of the artificial larynx
Scientists have not explained how, but while trying person to say the word, this grapheme label reads the movements of the larynx they are made even with broken vocal cords. This data leads to a small bracelet, which is a computer for generating the voice and a speaker for playback. Scientists did not specify, but, most likely, the wires are drawn outside and along the body to the bracelet. This solution is not perfect, but those wires can be hidden under clothing, such a device is in any case more convenient than the usual purpose of the initiative.
This is interesting: Almost the entire graphene available on the commercial market,
The Developers claim that by using this technology, the volunteers were able to quite clearly say the words "good" and "no." It is noteworthy that their voices were perfectly audible — volume level reached 75 decibels, which is the norm for the human voice. One of the downsides of voice devices still remained — generated voice again too "robotized".
That graphene is able to capture the movement of the larynx to believe with a large hunting — scientists think that this material can . At least, in the future it can be used to create medical sensors for diagnosing dangerous diseases.
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