As anyone with gabby coworkers or in-laws can attest, the tongue is a tireless muscle. Georgia Tech researchers believe the tongue can be more than a vessel for speech and taste; they think it may be the key to turning a disabled person’s mouth into a virtual computer.

InventHelp’s Invention Girl has learned that this inventive new system works via a magnet placed under the tip of the user’s tongue. As the user controls the tongue, the magnet’s movement is tracked by sensors on the side of each cheek. Then, this data is sent to a receiver situated atop the user’s head. Software converts the movement into commands for a wheelchair, appliances or electronics.

Although this system is not the first to use the mouth to control electronics, it presents new options for those paralyzed from the neck down. Breath-powered commands for wheelchairs are popular, but they provide only four movement options. The flexible, sensitive tongue could allow for more detailed, controlled movements. It could also provide a more economical alternative to sophisticated eye-movement systems.

InventHelp and Invention Girl don’t want to speculate too much on the future of this invention, so we’ll bite our tongues until this technology trend unfolds!

While InventHelp’s Invention Girl has heard her share of stories about tech-savvy seniors, there are still quite a few folks in their golden years who are simply uncomfortable with cell phones.

But, the idea of personal security and accessibility appeals who seniors who are trying to maintain their independence. Jitterbug® is hoping to bridge this gap by offering an easy-to-use, limited-function cell phone designed with senior-friendly features.

First, the large, backlit buttons make dialing easier, and a powerful speaker transmits sound effectively. Models range from a super-basic OneTouch (it has only 911, the Jitterbug operator and one number that they’ll personalize for you) to a more conventional-style cell phone (the design was created by Samsung).

The only drawback is that Jitterbug works only on its own network, which doesn’t have the reach of major networks like Sprint or Verizon. And, if you happen to be into text messaging, picture mail or any modern cell phone features, then Jitterbug might be a little rudimentary for you.

A basic plan starts around $20 per month, making it more affordable than most conventional cellular plan options (InventHelp’s Invention Girl is embarrassed to tell you how much her cell phone bill is each month!). For anyone who wants a simple, cheap way to keep in touch only as needed, this is a good option. But if you can surf the web while sending a text at the same speed as your grandkids, think bigger!

For sight-impaired or blind students, surfing the Web or jotting down notes from a blackboard requires the assistance of a learning aide, which can be both costly and inconvenient. InventHelp’s Invention Girl knows how hard physics class was even with sight, so I’m thrilled to see new tech inventions that help the blind community without sending them to the poor house.

A new invention made headlines recently because it can record and synchronize everything a student hears and writes. Check out our InventHelp Invention & Technology News site for more information on the Pulse SmartPen, which debuts in stores this month.

Next, there’s the exciting debut of WebAnywhere, a free web-based service that converts web-page text into electronic speech. While this technology already exists, the price tag (free!) and universal availability make it perfect for blind students who study at the library or in Internet cafes.

WebAnywhere works by processing text on an external server before sending it back to the user’s computer. Normally, screen readers require software to be downloaded before text can be converted to speech, which isn’t always an option on public computers.

By opening up the web for everyone, these new inventions create more opportunities for blind students both in education and in eventual career choices. In this InventHelp employee’s opinion, anything that breaks down barriers and levels the playing field for blind students is an advancement to be welcomed with open arms. Hey, they don’t call it the “World” Wide Web for nothing!

A “nice Sunday drive” just doesn’t have the same ring as it used to. InventHelp’s Invention Girl can remember filling up the tank and cruising around the city all day for what seemed like pocket change. Times sure have changed!

For anyone who has put more than a $50 bill into the gas tank this week, the idea of gas-saving gadgets sounds incredibly appealing. Sales of the Vortec Cyclone, which is designed to boost gas mileage by improving an engine’s air flow, have doubled this year. The $40 part swirls wind around the car’s air intake hose to create a finer air mixture that burns more effectively, said the product’s manufacturer, the Automotive Research Laboratory LLC.

But the government and the EPA believe that gas-saving devices are not worth the money. Even in the ones that work, they say, the savings are not enough to justify the cost of the purchase.

Vortec’s proponents aren’t discouraged by the EPA’s opinion. Some users claim the device boosts mileage by up to 6 miles per gallon, although a more realistic boost hovers around one or two. The Automotive Research Laboratory offers a money-back guarantee on the product, and they say returns run only around 5 percent of sales.

For now, at least, there’s no magic gadget that will make an SUV get 60 miles to the gallon. InventHelp’s Invention Girl hopes that we’ll have that device someday, but driving the speed limit, combining errands and traveling light will have to do for the time being.

Projectors have come a long way since the huge, white clunkers you still can find mounted to the ceiling of some dive sports bars. If you’re looking for a real home theater experience, Samsung’s SP-A800B creates amazing colors and remarkably clear signal reproduction.

This stylish, futuristic projector has rounded edges, sleek curves and a glossy black finish that easily could make it the best-looking device in your home-theater system. Features like Color Pattern enable the user to target blue tones to set tint correctly, and picture quality is enhanced by color and grayscale accuracy.

Samsung consulted video display guru Joe Kane of Joe Kane Productions to design the SP-A800B. The company originally collaborated with Kane on another high-performance projector, the SP-H710AE. With the latest model, the strengths of the first endeavor are enhanced and the kinks all but eliminated. The lens is superior, the lamp brighter and the overall appearance has been completely redesigned.

Projectors are generally on the pricey side, and this one starts around $9,999. Still, for videophiles who are serious about performance, the SP-A800B may be an even better choice than some more expensive models.

If you’re one of those types that will watch the same television channel for days because the remote control is missing, then this latest line of inventions from Japan is for you.

InventHelp’s Invention Girl has discovered that NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s top mobile carrier, is testing a new group of wearable gadgets that can sense your body movements and relate them to actions on the devices. For example, by tapping your finger you could turn on a DVD player or by rolling your eyes you could adjust volume on a portable music player.

For one round of testing, researchers wore huge headphones laden with wires, sensors and chips designed to track electrical currents created by the body’s movements. In another variation, a wristwatch type device could track movement in the wearer’s thumb and forefinger to work as a remote control for a stereo, television or media player.

One head researcher stressed that “the Japanese do not like to stand out,” so the idea is to make the application blend into the design of the item. The company’s end goal is to implement the technology into advanced cell phones.

While these gadgets are still in the testing phase, InventHelp’s Invention Girl will be sure to let you know if, or when, they hit the market.

InventHelp’s Invention Girl attended a Casino Night event recently where participants were given $1,000 in play chips and let loose on the tables. The person with the highest chip count was promised a great, top-secret door prize. Your favorite InventHelp diva got lucky at the Black Jack tables and ended up with the largest tally.

The grand prize? A Nintendo Wii®! I ran up onto that stage like I was winning an Academy Award and held the Wii high above my head. InventHelp’s Invention Girl was never so excited to win a prize before.

I love that the Wii gets you off the couch and moving. Although the Wii does come with the sports package, I wanted to get something that’ll get the whole body involved in fun and fitness. The Wii Fit is the perfect, well, fit. It has yoga, balance games, strengths training and aerobics. The special Wii Balance Board reads your movements and brings them to life on the screen. These are in extremely high demand, and thus far I’ve struck out on finding one.

Next on the list for InventHelp’s Invention Girl is a blast from the past, Mario Kart®. Wii’s version features a little white wheel that you use to steer Mario past obstacles and villains through rough terrain. The first time I played this, I drove poor Mario off a cliff more times than I can count, so I’ve got to get better quickly.

Finally, to feed my inner rock star, I’m picking up Rock Band, which was just released on Wii in late June. The Wii bundle includes the game, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar. Included are more than 60 songs that my friends and I will make our own. I hope that my neighbors have thick windows!

InventHelp’s Invention Girl was trolling the headlines the other day for the latest news on all things gadgetry when I came across this story: Are Gadget Fanatics Arrogant Jerks?

No! I instantly gasped; certainly not your favorite InventHelp employee! But, it turns out that a recent U.S. study concluded that tech junkies score high in assertiveness and leadership, but low in modesty.

In other words, we’re jerks.

The online study asked respondents to rate 20 unique personality traits on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a “highest intensity mindset.” The study, which included 25,000 Americans, found that those who rated 5 on assertiveness were almost 70 percent more likely to have purchased a new computer in the last three years. They’re also just as likely to purchase a new cell phone when the latest model hits the shelves.

Sure, we all know the brand loyalists who wear nothing but designer labels, purchase top-shelf drinks and drive fancy luxury cars. They carry around new gadgets like a badge of honor, interested less in the device’s functions than the image it helps them to portray.

But, InventHelp’s Invention Girl can assure you that there are plenty of technophiles out there who appreciate new gadgets for their scientific engineering. Gadget fans don’t fit into any particular gender, class or demographic mold. But we do have a one thing in common: We recognize that progress in innovation helps everyone to stay better connected and better informed. Technology both extends our lives and improves the quality of our lives.

While InventHelp’s Invention Girl certainly doesn’t want to be thought of as a “jerk,” I guess it’s a small price to pay for being up on the latest and greatest that science has to offer!

The image of well-groomed suburban housewives gathering excitedly around the latest Tupperware sets is almost as much of an American icon as apple pie (although it never really appealed to this InventHelp employee). Nowadays, women are putting away the Tupperware and gearing up for a new kind of gathering: Taser parties.

A Taser is an electroshock weapon that incapacitates targets though electro-muscular disruption (EMD) technology. The weapon stimulates both the sensory nerves and the motor nerves, causing severe, involuntary muscular contractions. InventHelp’s Invention Girl doesn’t think this sounds like a walk in the park, but many regular folks use Tasers to protect themselves.

Invented by Nasa Researcher Jack Cover, the Taser is now becoming a regular staple at women’s gatherings. Shieldher Inc. has recently started sponsoring Taser parties, giving women a chance to buy Tasers for $300, or $350 with a laser beam to help with aiming.

The latest Taser invention is the C2, which comes in female-friendly colors like pink, blue, silver or black. Included with the weapon are a manual, training DVD and one replaceable C2 cartridge that loads into the device. The invention can strike an attacker from up to 15 feet away.

Like any weapon, Tasers are not without risks. Reports of subjects being severely injured or even killed after a Taser strike splashed across headlines in recent years. Plus, the new colors have some parents concerned that children may mistake the Taser for a toy.

Tasers are illegal in seven states, so be sure to check the Taser website before purchasing or traveling with it. InventHelp’s Invention Girl is rather “stunned” by this reinvention of the Tupperware party, but I am a fan of personal protection and an even bigger fan of pink tech toys!

As anyone who’s ever been a cat owner can attest – either you’re a cat person or you’re not. InventHelp’s Invention Girl is the rare person who loves both cats and dogs, albeit for very different reasons. Cats are wonderfully independent and loving (when they want to be), while dogs are like permanent toddlers (but they get top marks for loyalty).

Although I don’t have a cat myself, I’ve lived with quite a few cats over the years, usually as result of a roommate’s impulse purchase. Changing dirty, stinky cat litter was never one of my favorite tasks, but when my forgetful roommate would neglect the job I’d feel compelled to take care of it.

If only we’d had the CatGenie back then, many a roommate argument could have been avoided! The CatGenie is an automatic, self-flushing litter box that – much like a cat, so they say – cleans itself. Instead of litter, it uses washable granules that don’t need to be changed. The makers say that Fluffy won’t be able to tell the difference.

After a one-time water hookup, the CatGenie pretty much takes care of itself. Cat owners can either push a button or preset the CatGenie to work automatically.

CatGenie is on the pricey side, costing about $300 for a Tabby Package™, which includes self-washing cat box, 2 boxes of washable granules, a supply of sterilizing solutions and T-adapters for setup. But, if you’re a bit squeamish (like InventHelp’s Invention Girl) and it means you never have to scoop disgusting cat poo again, it’s a bargain at twice the price!