MIT researchers have developed a computer interface that can transcribe words that the user concentrates on verbalizing but does not actually speak aloud. The system consists of a wearable device and an associated computing system.
Electrodes in the device pick up neuromuscular signals in the jaw and face that are triggered by internal verbalizations — saying words “in your head” but are undetectable to the human eye.
The signals are fed to a machine-learning system that has been trained to correlate particular signals with particular words.
The device also includes a pair of bone-conduction headphones, which transmit vibrations through the bones of the face to the inner ear.
The device is thus part of a complete silent-computing system that lets the user undetectably pose and receive answers to difficult computational problems.
News Source: http://news.mit.edu/2018/computer-system-transcribes-words-users-speak-silently-0404