Date of Award

3-2017

Degree Name

MS in Electrical Engineering

Department/Program

Electrical Engineering

Advisor

Jane Zhang

Abstract

Oral communication has constituted as a necessary aspect of how people interact with one another, but there are always situations where this form of communication can create distractions, irritation, or even danger. Take for example, a student in a laboratory who needs to communicate effectively with a lab partner without creating a distraction to those trying to work around said student or a soldier on a battlefield who needs to relay information effectively to his or her comrades without revealing his or her position to the enemy. It becomes apparent that people need a more exclusive form of communication in order to ensure not only the safety of soldiers, but efficiency in the workplace as well.

This project focuses on solving these problems by developing a small, concealable, and non-invasive, electronic device capable of transmitting communication silently by linking to a phone, computer, or radio channel. This device ensures completely silent communication between only those who use communicating devices and only requires that the user apply nodes to his or her throat when thinking of what he or she wishes to communicate with another for proper operation. Unlike other devices which rely on EEG and thus involve cumbersome headwear, this device performs as easily removable, concealable, hands free, conveniently pocket-sized, compatible with other devices used for communication, and able to have a user input versus device output accuracy of at least 70%.

Using wavelet analysis and a MSP432 microcontroller, subvocal signals originating from the throat can be classified to an overall accuracy of at least 70% within a project budget of $50.

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