LipSync Mouth-Operated Device Wins $800K Google Grant
Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 11 May 2016 - Updated: 9 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Announcement
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This announcement details a significant technology grant awarded to the Neil Squire Society to advance accessible mobile device technology for individuals unable to use their hands. The organization received $800,000 from Google Org's Impact Challenge: Disabilities to develop and release LipSync, an open-source mouth-operated controller that enables touchscreen navigation. With approximately one million people in North America having limited or no arm function, this solution addresses a critical gap in mobile accessibility - existing assistive technology for computers can cost up to $3,000 and doesn't translate well to smartphones and tablets. The open-source design allows makers to produce affordable, customizable versions for users with varying physical needs. This information proves valuable for disability advocates, occupational therapists, assistive technology specialists, and millions of people with upper limb disabilities who face barriers accessing essential mobile applications and services that many take for granted.
At a Glance
- 1 - The Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities launched in May 2015. It committed $20 million in grants to disability-focused nonprofits.
- 2 - Existing hands-free solutions serve desktop computers rather than mobile devices. Those systems can cost users up to $3,000.
- 3 - Google selected the winning projects from more than 1,000 submissions worldwide. The initiative aims to support the one billion people living with a disability.
- 4 - Dr. Gary Birch, Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society, moved LipSync from an R and D prototype toward public release. The open-source model lets makers customize the controller for individual physical needs.
Topic Definition
- LipSync Assistive Device
LipSync is an open-source, mouth-operated input controller that lets people with limited or no hand function navigate touchscreen smartphones and tablets. Developed by the Neil Squire Society, the device works much like a joystick controlled by the lips and mouth, translating small movements and sip-and-puff actions into on-screen cursor control and taps. Because its designs are published openly, makers and workshops can build and adapt affordable versions rather than relying on costly proprietary equipment, putting everyday mobile apps, services, and communication tools within reach for roughly one million people across Canada and the United States who cannot use their arms.
Overview
How would you use a touch screen mobile device, if you could not use your hands to touch the device? The support from Google will enable the Neil Squire Society to release the LipSync, a mouth controlled input device enabling people with disabilities to operate a mobile device.
An estimated 1,000,000 people in Canada and the United States have limited or no use of their arms - meaning they're unable to use touchscreen devices that could provide access to helpful apps and services. While solutions exist for desktop computers, they can cost up to $3,000 and do not work well on mobile devices.
The LipSync designs will be released open source so that makers can affordably make the solution so that anyone with difficulty using their hands can operate a mobile device using a mouth-operated input controller.
"The support of Google Org will enable us to take our LipSync from prototype in our R&D department into the lives of people with disabilities," says Dr. Gary Birch, Executive Director of the Neil Squire Society.
"Mobile technology has changed the lives of everyone, but can be a new barrier to people that are unable to use their hands. The LipSync solves this problem, and our model of releasing it open source will ensure it is an affordable option that can be customized to the specific needs of people with disabilities worldwide."
"The Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities set out to accelerate the use of technology to create meaningful change in the lives of the one billion people in the world with a disability," says Brigette Hoyer Gosselink, Principal at Google. "We're eager to watch as today's winners, selected from over 1,000 submissions from around the world, build new solutions that will transform lives and make the world more accessible for all."
Launched in May of 2015, the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities put $20 million in Google Org grants behind nonprofits using emerging technologies to increase independence for people living with disabilities.
About Google Org
Google Org, the philanthropic arm of Google, supports nonprofits that innovate to address humanitarian issues. Google Org was created to pursue, experiment with, and build upon ideas to improve the world, and continues to take an iterative approach to philanthropy today. Google Org develops and invests in pursuits that can have measurable impact on local, regional and global issues, and rallies Google's people in support of these efforts with a singular goal of creating a better world, faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LipSync device used for
LipSync is a mouth-operated controller that lets people who cannot use their hands navigate touchscreen smartphones and tablets by moving a small joystick with their lips and using sip and puff actions.
Who created the LipSync device
The LipSync was developed by the Neil Squire Society, a Canadian nonprofit that designs assistive technology to help people with disabilities gain greater independence.
Why is LipSync released as open source
Releasing the designs openly lets makers build and customize affordable versions, avoiding the high cost of proprietary assistive equipment and allowing the device to reach users worldwide.
How much does it cost to build a LipSync
Because the plans are open source and use widely available parts, a LipSync can be built for a fraction of the cost of traditional assistive controllers, which can reach up to 3,000 dollars.
What is sip and puff technology
Sip and puff technology lets a user send commands by inhaling or exhaling through a tube or mouthpiece, giving people with limited hand function a way to control devices with their breath.
Who benefits most from the LipSync device
People with spinal cord injuries, ALS, muscular dystrophy, or other conditions that limit arm and hand movement benefit most, along with occupational therapists and assistive technology specialists who support them.
What was the Google Impact Challenge Disabilities
It was a Google Org initiative launched in 2015 that awarded 20 million dollars in grants to nonprofits using emerging technology to increase independence for people with disabilities.
Can the LipSync work with any smartphone or tablet
The LipSync is designed to operate standard touchscreen mobile devices, and its open and customizable build lets makers adapt it to fit different hardware and individual user needs.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The significance of the LipSync project extends beyond its immediate technical innovation. By choosing an open-source model rather than proprietary development, the Neil Squire Society has created a blueprint for democratizing assistive technology. This approach challenges the traditional high-cost barrier that has long excluded people with disabilities from accessing cutting-edge solutions. As mobile devices become increasingly central to employment, education, healthcare, and social connection, the availability of affordable adaptive equipment isn't just about convenience - it's about participation in modern life. The project demonstrates how strategic philanthropy combined with open-source principles can multiply impact far beyond the initial investment, potentially reaching users across economic and geographic boundaries.
Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.