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Smart Ear Buds for Hands-free Control

Non-invasive smart earbud interfaces with user facial expressions to control the environment

Praxis exists to lead global collaboration in spinal cord injury research, innovation and care. We translate knowledge to bridge health evidence with real-world delivery. The word praxis means the practical application of a theory – moving knowledge into action. We measure our success through impact, how Praxis makes a difference to the SCI community.

B.C. company Naqi Logix is on track to deliver independence for those living with spinal cord injury (SCI) through its smart earbud that facilitates hands-free interaction with their environment. Since participating in a Praxis innovations program—SCI Validate—the company is exploring the device’s potential for users in wheelchairs.

The neural earbuds are equipped with powerful sensors that pick up facial micro-gestures, changes in air pressure, and head position. Described by Naqi’s inventor Dave Segal as “a safe, noninvasive, universal, invisible, and silent command and control system”, they are equipped with an array of sensors that can pick up subtle facial movements including eye blinks or turning the head. These translate into control signals for digital devices such as smart-home tech, wheelchairs as well as augmented reality. 

Without touch, a screen or voice controls, users can control computers, machines, and robots in their world without talking to them, touching them or looking at them. For people with SCI this is an extremely valuable feature as their injury often creates barriers to interacting with the surrounding world in daily life. For example, depending on the degree of paralysis, hand function to operate switches, buttons, and other devices is often severely limited.

Supporting solutions that address these communication issues is part of Praxis’ work; connecting innovators with people with lived experience of SCI (PLEX) ensures that the focus is always on SCI community priorities. Naqi Logix is currently refining the product based on feedback from the Praxis PLEX team in addition to another three mentors with lived experience of SCI. The company is running a crowdfunding campaign and has signed on a major strategic partnership with a leading distributor of assistive devices.

“Working under PLEX mentorship with Praxis’ SCI Validate program was incredibly valuable for developing our technology,” said Naqi Co-founder, Miro Cernetig. “With direct input from people with lived experience of spinal cord injury, we were able to focus on priorities meaningful to them. Being able to refine our device like this means our Naqi-enabled earbuds make a real difference to people like Sam Sullivan. At Naqi, we’re excited to see more people take hands-free control of their surroundings.” 

https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/10047210/

Results are already impacting standards of care for SCI in BC, with Praxis and AOSpine supporting the development of clinical practice guidelines to ensure this evidence is available worldwide. The company is also gaining wider attention, landing a coveted spot on TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023. New fans of the tech include Vancouver former Mayor and ex-Praxis Board member, Sam Sullivan, who took the Naqi earbuds for a test drive recently, as shown in this video from Global News. Results are already impacting standards of care for SCI in BC, with Praxis and AOSpine supporting the development of clinical practice guidelines to ensure this evidence is available worldwide.

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