loading... Audio Tooth Implant demo model

Online poll on CNN from June 2002

Sun newspaper article from June 2002

US Time magazine front cover

Hand-typed letter complaining about the tooth implant ‹ 1/5 ›

The Audio Tooth Implant is a radical new concept in personal communication. A miniature audio output device and receiver are implanted into the tooth during routine dental surgery. These offer a form of electronic telepathy as the sound information resonates directly into the consciousness.The tooth implant consists of 3 separate elements.• A low frequency receiver (150kHz).• A piezo electric micro vibration device.• An electro magnetic micro generator.A modified mobile telephone or dedicated device is used to receive the long-range signal. This is also used to fully customise the set up (receiving unwanted sound information would be akin to techno-schizophrenia). The device then transmits a low frequency signal which energises the dormant receiver (in the tooth) by magnetic near field effects. A transducer then converts this signal into low amplitude vibrations. Sound is then received into the inner ear through bone transduction.The device communicates with an array of digital devices such as mobile telephones and news services via the Internet or can be used simply in conjunction with MP3 players.Sound reception is completely discreet allowing the user to receive information at times where use of other technologies would be socially innapropriate.The Audio Tooth Implant is a conceptual proposition intended to encourage discourse and comment on the possibilities of biotechnology and it's potential impact on society and culture. In-body technologies are already commonplace in replacement surgery procedures (replacing badly functioning natural organs with artificial ones) It seems only a small progression for us to allow technologies into our bodies with the intention of augmenting our natural capabilities.The Audio Tooth Implant was pitched at a level where its desirability and believability would be acceptable in terms of the contemporary attitude in society.• The surgical procedure necessary for the implant is a simple visit to the dentist.• Levels of mobile telephone usage are at a level where the market is open to radical developments in this field.We created MIBEC (micro-in-body-electronics-corporation) and made a promo film to give describe the concept.After the implant went public, articles were printed in all the main UK newspapers and TV news programmes. It was covered on many weblogs and news sites and was named in Time magazine as one of the best inventions of 2002.There are no plans to put the Audio Tooth Implant into production.