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- Hands-Free Access: Head Pointing Devices
- For people who have little or no use
of their hands, head pointing devices such as the HeadMouse
and HeadMaster offer a completely hands-free operation
of the computer
- These ultrasonic devices produce extremely
natural
movement of the mouse pointer and allow complete and
accurate control of the pointer
- The device, usually composed of a sensor
worn on the person’s head and a transmitter on top of
the monitor, translates changes in the user's head position
into changes in the cursor's position on the screen
HeadMaster Plus with a sip ‘n puff
switch
HeadMouse (Origin
Instruments). Head controlled pointing. Available for
PC and Mac ($1,795)
- Wireless operation
- No cumbersome head mounted apparatus
- Uses an optical sensor dot (.25” diameter)
attached to forehead or eye glasses
- Complete keyboard access can be achieved
through the use of an on-screen keyboard and dwell software,
in which the user simply holds the mouse pointer over
a target for a period of time and then the system will
generate a click
- Switches (including wireless types)
can also be used to achieve mouse clicks
HeadMaster By:
Prentke Romich
HeadMaster
2000 $1,395 PC only
Wireless, composed of a sensor
attached to eyeglasses or a headset and a pager-sized control
box
Infrared receiver is placed on or near monitor
Battery operated - charge lasts 8-10 hours
HeadMaster Plus
$1,195 Mac and PC
Requires a headset
Not wireless
For mouse selection (click, drag, etc.), a sip ‘n puff switch
can be attached to the headset
Sip ’n puff may cause problems for those with limited breath
control
Eyegaze
Devices
Eyegaze devices continue
to be developed. Current technology allows the user to fix
their gaze to select on-screen keys to word process, communicate,
and control certain appliances. The setup, consisting of
an Eyegaze monitor, specialized video camera
and image-processing software is very expensive, around
$17,000. Currently, users must have good vision, some reading
skills and keep their head still. LC
Technologies Eyegaze System
Voice-Recognition Devices
These combination hardware/software
devices allow the user to input data and/or control computer
functions by voice. It is hoped that future developments
will offer complete mouse emulation, be more accurate and
more intuitive
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