Mouse Emulation Tool Uses Head Movement and Helps Disabled PC Users

Posted October 4, 2007 · October 4, 2007

By Fermoso October 03, 2007

Techy gadgets for the disabled community have been around awhile but

are mostly oppressively expensive, limiting their availability and

overall impact –opening up the market for an affordable item like

the new MouseCap prototype. The MouseCap, a mouse-emulation tool

from Argentinian designers Martín Belzunce and Nahuel ,

features simple aspects that other mouse replacements do not: It's

easily compatible with most operating systems, does not need extra

software, and doesn't need to be personally calibrated for each

user, which means that it's easier to share with others. In

addition, once it's released, it's supposed to cost about a fifth

less than other available mouse-emulation gadgets, which run up and

over $1,000.

The MouseCap helps the hand-disabled control a PC with their head,

through a smart sensor system that replaces the need to use a mouse.

The system includes three sensors that are placed on the corners of

the monitor, a processor, and another sensor mounted on the user's

head on glasses, a cap or anything else that a user would find

comfortable. It connects easily through a USB plug and right-and-

left click selection is activated by the user's bite or by breathing

softly on a tube trigger.

The best thing about it is that this product is being developed from

the bottom-up, with affordability and OS compatibility as their

market lynchpin. The MouseCap complies with HID (human interface

device) specification.

Using a mouse is now a generally overlooked activity, with new mice

usually relegated to the darkest ghettoes of personal gadget labs -

but people would feel differently if they were handicapped and

couldn't use their hands, so this is a step in the right direction.

You can see the designer's site right here.

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