I had a tongue ring once. Spur of the moment decision that was made in order to not be outdone by my best friend getting her first tattoo after we graduated high school. I ended up removing it a few years later, thinking it might not be "professional" enough in my internships and future job interviews.
But, now there is a new technology on the horizon, in which such a piercing could be used to steer a wheelchair. I must say, it's pretty neat (yes, neat) that medicine and engineering combine to improve the quality of life of those affected by paralysis with a system that involves a tongue ring. And unlike other therapies that use chemicals to improve the quality of life, I do not know of any long term side effects!
