06/17/2026
6 years ago we made our first prototype, and it wasn’t pretty.
Back in 2020, we developed a controller for individuals with severe paralysis to be able to control technology. By tracking both head and tongue movement using a magnet and several sensors around the head, users could control their smartphone or power wheelchair.
The device was clunky and hard to use, but it helped to validate a real need for a wearable hands-free controller for individuals living with complex physical disabilities.
So we ditched tongue control and instead focused on allowing any part of the body to be used for control, like the eyebrow, cheek, or jaw. And that’s where our small sensors, known as tracers, were born.
Over the years, we worked with countless users and went through dozens of prototypes until we finally landed on a device that ticked all the boxes: a highly modular, customizable, and adaptive controller that can transform any visible body motion into digital device controls.
Today, Kinemo is helping individuals with mobility impairment be more independent by offering a new way to access their digital devices. We’re still listening to users, still incorporating feedback, and still iterating our devices, so our journey is far from done, but we couldn’t be prouder of our progress thus far.
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