Graphene can enable a deaf-mute to “speak”. It is hoped the “Smart Graphene Artificial Larynx”, invented by a research group headed by Professor Ren Tianling at the Micro-electronics Institute of Tsinghua University, will solve the difficult problem of allowing deaf-mutes to “talk”.

Recently, Ren Tianling’s re-search group published a research paper in Nature Communications entitled “The Smart Graphene Artificial Larynx with Voice Sensory Power”. The group uti-lized the advantages of a porous graphene material to make a synthesized acoustic device that can both receive and send sound signals. It is also suitable for wearing on the body. When the wearer of the “artificial larynx” makes a sound, the artificial lar-ynx perceives vibrations from the throat and emits a pre-established sound. When the wearer changes the length and tone of his sound, the artificial larynx modifies its noise significantly.

In addition to distinguish-ing different tones, the smart graphene artificial larynx can also decode different types of “language” from varying deaf-mute people. This is ac-complished by measuring the strength of a voice, scream, or cough, and by differentiating syllabic permutations and com-binations, enables deaf-mutes to speak richer sentences. (Xinhua News Agency)