We know from clients who've suffered severe spinal cord injuries that manoeuvring a wheelchair can be difficult, sometimes impossible.

However, new technology developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology could help.

The Tongue Drive system allows people with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues.

A magnet the size of a grain of rice in the chip allows tongue motion to direct the movement of a cursor. When the tongue is moved forward it sends a wireless signal to six sensors in a headset which in turn cause a wheelchair to move forward. Move the tongue backwards, and the wheelchair will reverse.

Researchers chose the tongue to operate the system because unlike the hands and feet, which are controlled by the brain through the spinal cord, the tongue is connected directly to the brain by a cranial nerve that generally escapes damage in severe spinal cord injuries or neuromuscular diseases.

The system has the potential to capture a large number of tongue movements, each representing a different user command. A unique set of specific tongue movements can be tailored for each individual based on the user's abilities, oral anatomy, preferences and lifestyle.

It is hoped that in future the device could help individuals with severe disabilities, such as those with high-level spinal cord injuries.

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