Slashdot Mirror
Review of Hands Free Mouse
SLDave wrote in to
plug his review of
NaturalPoint's hands free mouse that
covered by Slashdot some time ago.
It seems to work as advertised, using a camera to track your head and replace
your mouse, but with a lot of caveats. Definitely worth a look for us truly
lazy folks.
NaturalPoint TrackIR
Author: Chris Oh
Date Posted: April 25th, 2002
SLRating:
Bottom Line: If you're into cool toys that have functionality, give this a try but don't rely on it outside of simple tasks, such as deathmatches.
http://www.slcentral.com/c/h/r/naturalpoint/tra
Introduction
Didn't you ever wish that you could just sit back and browse the web like it's made to be done? Didn't you just want to lie back and make your eyes do the talking and clicking for you? Well then, if you're like me, you will be looking for everything possible to make your time on the computer and on the internet, much more efficient and easier. As an American, I like doing things the easiest way possible. People have dreamed for a long time for something to make using the computer easier. When the mouse came along, that was a godsend and people were gracing it as the ultimate usability tool for the computer but now that we've progressed through high stages of computing, the mouse has remained relatively the same except for some laser technology. In comes the NaturalPoint TrackIR, which is a tool which supplements "not replaces" your mouse with something much better... your forehead. The concept is so simple that it's almost a crime to market and sell it off when most of us has been dreaming of things like this for years but to give credit where credit is due, NaturalPoint took it upon themselves to actually take the time to developing something like this and market it.
Here's how it works, the TrackIR has 2 basic parts that make it work. The first is a camera that mounts on the top of your computer and second part is silver dots which you stick on your forehead, hat, etc... that catch the attention of the camera so that the cursor moves along to the movements your head makes. The dots have a cloth backing so you can stick it and remove it many times. The camera is sensitive enough to detect the silver dots and it will only detect those dots and calculate how it moves and translate it to cursor movements. So when the dots are on your head and you move your head left, the camera sees the dot moving to the left and therefore the cursor moves left. Actually, this isn't really a camera because all it can basically make out from everything else is the silver dots; it will not do anything like take pictures of your friends or of the city. The camera sends out infrared signals and the silver dots bounce the signals back to the TrackIR. The camera is connected to the desktop or laptop through USB. The cable is pretty short (good for laptops) and therefore it comes with a 4 foot long USB cable extension. Also, it has extra rubber pads for use with laptops. A good feature of this is that the device is powered by the USB port and therefore doesn't require any external power.
The device comes in three flavors: the "standard" which has the camera, cord, software, and the dots...the "EG" (ergonomics) which has a clear case camera, two finger rings, and a breakout cable, this is meant to fully replace your mouse... and finally, the "AT" (assisted technology) model which helps out disabled people with special software. What I will be reviewing today will be the standard model.
Installation
When getting ready to install the device, you will see many, many notices in the packaging telling you to install the software before installing the hardware and this is a very important factor in getting this to work properly. I would've gone and tested what would happen if I installed the hardware first but I don't think that I would like to have taken that risk. After installing the software, you will need to reboot, then connect the hardware to the computer. The camera was meant to sit on a monitor or something pretty high up and level to your head or wherever you wish to place the dots. The camera has a metal base which can be bent to stabilize itself on any surface: monitor edges, desk edges, etc...The camera has a roughly 25 degree field of view which is quite adequate because it will most likely be positioned in front of you. Installation was fairly simple and straightforward, just like many USB webcams and devices. Of course here comes the tricky part or so it seemed: the software.
System Specs
AMD Athlon 1.2GHz
Soyo Dragon +
256MB Crucial PC2100DDR
MSI GeForce2 Pro
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Maxtor D740X 60GB Hard Drive
Plextor 12/10/32A IDE CD-RW
Pioneer 16X DVD-ROM
Microsoft WindowsXP
Software
The TrackIR doesn't work at all without the software running because it is not a native windows device like a mouse or a keyboard but making the software run on start-up isn't a big hassle. You'll know when the device is on and working when you see the green light on the top of the camera turns on. The software works with everything in the system and is basically like one of the apps everyone used to have that would move your mouse around a bit every couple of seconds to fool the AllAdvantage program. When you move the real mouse, it would disable the TrackIR program until the mouse stops moving. The software itself reminds me of the mouse control panel in Windows, it lets you control cursor speed, sensitivity, smoothness, etc...Smoothness is unique, when you set it to maximum smoothness, you get a very fluid movement from the cursor but also it seems to lag a bit...I like it because your head can be shaking quite a bit and the cursor would be steady, sort of like the Sony Handycam's Steadyshot. In constrast, minimum smoothness results in jerky and jittery movements of the cursor. Other functions include a double speed function in which the cursor moves at double the speed. Also, the gravity function lets you hit the hard to hit targets of the close, minimize, maximize, etc...buttons, they snap to a button when the cursor gets close to it so you can easily get the cursor close to the close button and the software automatically positions the cursor over the close button, where it thinks you intended to put it.
The "Game Mode" function overrides the game's mouse controls so the TrackIR can be used for games. But in games, I found that precision and speed is lacking compared to a mouse and it would pretty difficult to be a champion while using the TrackIR as a game controller. These comments are for FPS and RTS games but for flight simulations, I've come to the conclusions from many reports that this is a good choice because of the ability for you to view out of the cockpit with the TrackIR and how it's a less point and click dependant genre than FPS or RTS.
At this point you might be wondering how you click the mouse, both left and right click can't be done with your eyes blinking, I'm sorry but I don't think that function will ever be implemented, unless you would like to stick a few silver dots on your eyelids. Clicking is done through pressing designated keys on the keyboard, so you can have an almost hands free experience, notice the keyword being "almost".
Common Usage
What can I say about this device in terms of things I normally do such as browsing the web and checking email? The TrackIR can easily move the cursor as well as a mouse can and it's much easier moving your head than it is moving a mouse so I cant argue with it's ease and laziness factor. The only major problem that I think people will hit is that it takes time getting used to it. It takes time to adjust to the speed you move your head, the angles of visibility, and the range, and if you play games, those too. Also, the TrackIR catches onto many things that are bright...not just the silver dots. If you have a silver ring, there's a good chance it'll see that as a dot and track according to that. The bottom line is that you probably wont save any time by using the TrackIR but it's a good break from the standard mouse and also adds just a little bit to the human laziness factor.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Works like advertised
Makes life a bit easier
Comes with many replacement dots
Cons
Lack of precision
Wearing something that has silver dots on it
Other shiny objects can throw off the camera
Conclusion
I'll give it to you, it's pretty cool to say that all you have to do to use your computer is look at the screen and move your head around a bit but considering everything up to this point, is it worth it? It would be if you could get 100% used to using the TrackIR but it's harder than it seems but the sensitivity and speed options do help. NaturalPoint has done a good job programming the software so that it makes the user have an easier time getting adjusted to the TrackIR. Once properly modified, the TrackIR can be one cool toy but it probably will not be put out for mainstream use or adopted by any OEM's because overally, it will take longer to do things with the TrackIR then it will with a simple mouse. If you're into cool toys that have functionality, give this a try but don't rely on it outside of simple tasks, such as deathmatches.
SLRating: 7/10
English is not my first language, so cut me some slack -: Om du kan lasa det har sa kan du Svenska
On second thought, better not to think about that.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
Now I can use both hands for masturbating!
To porn.
Once properly modified, the TrackIR can be one cool toy but it probably will not be put out for mainstream use or adopted by any OEM's because overally, it will take longer to do things with the TrackIR then it will with a simple mouse.
overally -- what the heck is that? Is that like coveralls or overalls for OEMs?
Tell me this thing is not made in India and part of a plot to take over the world.
.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
This being Slashdot, I'm wondering whether the subject means "Review of a hands-free mouse" or "Review of Hand's free mouse".
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Does someone have a mirror?
Wouldn't it make more sense to track your eye movements, if I could *look* at the link on a page (lets say hold it in focus for one second) and follow the link life would be great. There is some technolgy that allows tracking of eye movement - I've seen it used to research how the human brain "reads" a page of text (by scanning all over it quickly).
The ergonomic trackIR(TM) provides precise cursor control through simple head movement...
;)
This in combination with gestures can lead to severe neck and shoulder problems
Without the ability to click handsfree, this thing is utterly worthless.
To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target
Does anybody know of any linux motion tracking projects that could do the same thing? It sounds really cool, but I was to cheap to pay $200 extra for XP when I bought my computer *shrug*
Sign at the House of Pets pet store:
"Rat and Mouse Giveaway. Limit 12 per Customer"
i move my eyes when reading, not my head. my neck is startign to ache just thinking about it.
hardware was pretty cool looking though!
IMHO, YMMV etc etc...
I just move my eyes. This won't help me.
I play a lot of civ III. So much that i get a red marks from my mousepad. This will be good. Now if i can only find out how to get the Romans to stop attacking babylon!
"There seems to have been a slight problem with the database. Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser."
This was on Slashdot just a little bit ago, here.
Have fun: Join D.N.A. (National Dyslexics Association)
"As an American, I like doing things the easiest way possible."
I think it's a little off, though. What should have been said is, "As an American, I only like doing easy things."
Seriously, I'm all for getting rid of the pesky mouse, but not because I don't want to have to move any limbs to interact with the computer. It's mostly because I get tired of moving my hands from the keyboard to the mouse and back again. As a programmer I can see this would be very useful (though I'm pretty good at getting around without a mouse these days). I can also see how this would be useful for handicapped folks. I cannot, however, see the point in getting one of these just so that you can be more sedentary. :)
Check it out :)
As always, humor included
So here's the text of the article.
Introduction
Didn't you ever wish that you could just sit back and browse the web like it's made to be done? Didn't you just want to lie back and make your eyes do the talking and clicking for you? Well then, if you're like me, you will be looking for everything possible to make your time on the computer and on the internet, much more efficient and easier. As an American, I like doing things the easiest way possible. People have dreamed for a long time for something to make using the computer easier. When the mouse came along, that was a godsend and people were gracing it as the ultimate usability tool for the computer but now that we've progressed through high stages of computing, the mouse has remained relatively the same except for some laser technology. In comes the NaturalPoint TrackIR, which is a tool which supplements "not replaces" your mouse with something much better... your forehead. The concept is so simple that it's almost a crime to market and sell it off when most of us has been dreaming of things like this for years but to give credit where credit is due, NaturalPoint took it upon themselves to actually take the time to developing something like this and market it.
Here's how it works, the TrackIR has 2 basic parts that make it work. The first is a camera that mounts on the top of your computer and second part is silver dots which you stick on your forehead, hat, etc... that catch the attention of the camera so that the cursor moves along to the movements your head makes. The dots have a cloth backing so you can stick it and remove it many times. The camera is sensitive enough to detect the silver dots and it will only detect those dots and calculate how it moves and translate it to cursor movements. So when the dots are on your head and you move your head left, the camera sees the dot moving to the left and therefore the cursor moves left. Actually, this isn't really a camera because all it can basically make out from everything else is the silver dots; it will not do anything like take pictures of your friends or of the city. The camera sends out infrared signals and the silver dots bounce the signals back to the TrackIR. The camera is connected to the desktop or laptop through USB. The cable is pretty short (good for laptops) and therefore it comes with a 4 foot long USB cable extension. Also, it has extra rubber pads for use with laptops. A good feature of this is that the device is powered by the USB port and therefore doesn't require any external power.
The device comes in three flavors: the "standard" which has the camera, cord, software, and the dots...the "EG" (ergonomics) which has a clear case camera, two finger rings, and a breakout cable, this is meant to fully replace your mouse... and finally, the "AT" (assisted technology) model which helps out disabled people with special software. What I will be reviewing today will be the standard model.
Installation
When getting ready to install the device, you will see many, many notices in the packaging telling you to install the software before installing the hardware and this is a very important factor in getting this to work properly. I would've gone and tested what would happen if I installed the hardware first but I don't think that I would like to have taken that risk. After installing the software, you will need to reboot, then connect the hardware to the computer. The camera was meant to sit on a monitor or something pretty high up and level to your head or wherever you wish to place the dots. The camera has a metal base which can be bent to stabilize itself on any surface: monitor edges, desk edges, etc...The camera has a roughly 25 degree field of view which is quite adequate because it will most likely be positioned in front of you. Installation was fairly simple and straightforward, just like many USB webcams and devices. Of course here comes the tricky part or so it seemed: the software.
System Specs
AMD Athlon 1.2GHz
Soyo Dragon +
256MB Crucial PC2100DDR
MSI GeForce2 Pro
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Maxtor D740X 60GB Hard Drive
Plextor 12/10/32A IDE CD-RW
Pioneer 16X DVD-ROM
Microsoft WindowsXP
Software
The TrackIR doesn't work at all without the software running because it is not a native windows device like a mouse or a keyboard but making the software run on start-up isn't a big hassle. You'll know when the device is on and working when you see the green light on the top of the camera turns on. The software works with everything in the system and is basically like one of the apps everyone used to have that would move your mouse around a bit every couple of seconds to fool the AllAdvantage program. When you move the real mouse, it would disable the TrackIR program until the mouse stops moving. The software itself reminds me of the mouse control panel in Windows, it lets you control cursor speed, sensitivity, smoothness, etc...Smoothness is unique, when you set it to maximum smoothness, you get a very fluid movement from the cursor but also it seems to lag a bit...I like it because your head can be shaking quite a bit and the cursor would be steady, sort of like the Sony Handycam's Steadyshot. In constrast, minimum smoothness results in jerky and jittery movements of the cursor. Other functions include a double speed function in which the cursor moves at double the speed. Also, the gravity function lets you hit the hard to hit targets of the close, minimize, maximize, etc...buttons, they snap to a button when the cursor gets close to it so you can easily get the cursor close to the close button and the software automatically positions the cursor over the close button, where it thinks you intended to put it.
The "Game Mode" function overrides the game's mouse controls so the TrackIR can be used for games. But in games, I found that precision and speed is lacking compared to a mouse and it would pretty difficult to be a champion while using the TrackIR as a game controller. These comments are for FPS and RTS games but for flight simulations, I've come to the conclusions from many reports that this is a good choice because of the ability for you to view out of the cockpit with the TrackIR and how it's a less point and click dependant genre than FPS or RTS.
At this point you might be wondering how you click the mouse, both left and right click can't be done with your eyes blinking, I'm sorry but I don't think that function will ever be implemented, unless you would like to stick a few silver dots on your eyelids. Clicking is done through pressing designated keys on the keyboard, so you can have an almost hands free experience, notice the keyword being "almost".
Common Usage
What can I say about this device in terms of things I normally do such as browsing the web and checking email? The TrackIR can easily move the cursor as well as a mouse can and it's much easier moving your head than it is moving a mouse so I cant argue with it's ease and laziness factor. The only major problem that I think people will hit is that it takes time getting used to it. It takes time to adjust to the speed you move your head, the angles of visibility, and the range, and if you play games, those too. Also, the TrackIR catches onto many things that are bright...not just the silver dots. If you have a silver ring, there's a good chance it'll see that as a dot and track according to that. The bottom line is that you probably wont save any time by using the TrackIR but it's a good break from the standard mouse and also adds just a little bit to the human laziness factor.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Works like advertised
Makes life a bit easier
Comes with many replacement dots
Cons
Lack of precision
Wearing something that has silver dots on it
Other shiny objects can throw off the camera
Conclusion
I'll give it to you, it's pretty cool to say that all you have to do to use your computer is look at the screen and move your head around a bit but considering everything up to this point, is it worth it? It would be if you could get 100% used to using the TrackIR but it's harder than it seems but the sensitivity and speed options do help. NaturalPoint has done a good job programming the software so that it makes the user have an easier time getting adjusted to the TrackIR. Once properly modified, the TrackIR can be one cool toy but it probably will not be put out for mainstream use or adopted by any OEM's because overally, it will take longer to do things with the TrackIR then it will with a simple mouse. If you're into cool toys that have functionality, give this a try but don't rely on it outside of simple tasks, such as deathmatches.
SLRating: 7/10
Shockwave Flash movies are the greatest thing to happen to non-sequitur humor since Japan.
I definitely could've used it for my bout of tendonitis, but when will we get the hands free keyboard? NOT voice recognition, a hands-free keyboard, with cameras and all that good stuff.
:)
instructions: Point your nose at what key you would like to press, then lurch your head foreward
Note: I know somepeople would complain about the lack of resistance and clicking noise
I'll buy one only if you double-click by sticking your tongue out twice, really fast.
So my question is how does it work if yoiu are wearing glasses ?
:)
How does it handel background noise (ppl walking past ect ?
de review doesnt seem to mention much of this
I dout this would be usefull for anything except for handsfree porn surfing.
Oh wait a minute euhh where can i order one
42
Now only if they made other "activities" hands-free.
As a kid I would fool around with my kid sister as I pointed the TV remote to her forehead, pressing buttons randomly, all the while taunting that her brain was going to melt. So if I use this thing roughly 8 hours a day, in a years time will I have a red indentation in the middle of my forehead? If my indentation is bigger than yours do I get a raise for working more?
Yup, already gone. To wit:
/home/virtual/site1/fst/var/www/html/boards/adm in/db_mysql.php on line 38
;^)
Warning: Too many connections in
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
To add insult to injury, we have beome what we hate most:
An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
This guy's getting the "Slashdot-SPAMed-my-Mailbox-to-Death" effect, I would imagine. Stop SPAM! Read the karma whore's version here!
Soko
"Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm." - Anonymous
Warning: Too many connections in /home/virtual/site1/fst/var/www/html/boards/adm in/db_mysql.php on line 38
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
/.'s lameness filter is annoying.
...side note..
da w00t. mtfnpy?
Silver dots?!?
I'm already the geek of my neighborhood, but if I forget to take those things off I'll never hear the end of it I'm sure.
I'll pass since it isn't as precise as a mouse but I'm really taken by the concept. Especially if I can play CounterStrike or UnReal Tourney with it.
There is nothing inherently safe about liberty. That's why so many people died protecting it.
How many linux kernels will it run on?
They're trying to turn us all into hindus! I'll never do that, I'm happy enough with my religion!
Fortunately I've been working on my telekenisis and can scroll and click links just by thinking about it.
-- dan.sherman
I'd rather have a worn out wrist than a worn out neck.
-c
I have discovered a truly remarkable proof which this margin is too small to contain.
It's been an interesting switch, and I most certainly find some advantage in the footpedal. My hands leave home row significantly less than the average typist. I believe this could make me a faster typist overall given some more time.
I also jump in Quake with my big toe now.
RSI = Repetitive Strain Injury, just in case you didn't know.
--Arik
I try to read by just moving my eyes, since it's supposed to be faster and
takes less effort. How about if they came out with a reflective contact lens, then
you really wouldn't have to move.
I believe I saw another slashdot article about a similar technology used to aim missles on fighter jets.
This product has been reviewed on a few flight sim sites already.
Flight Sim 2002 has what's called a "virtual cockpit", letting the user pan allaround his aircraft, and still be able to use the instruments. With this addon, instead of being stuck using the numpad or a hat switch to pan around, they can use their head to look around (within reason, of course).
It makes visual approaches and landings alot simpler when you only have to glance left or right to line up, instead of fumbling for buttons.
Call on God, but row AWAY from the rocks!
Definitely worth a look for us truly lazy folks.
Did it ever occur to you that this device could really improve the quality of life for a handicapped person? Maybe you could start yucking it up about how great wheelchairs are for people too lazy to walk. Your sensitivity is truly impressive.
Mirror
kawai
If I'm not moving it and clicking it with my hand, then what part of my body _am_ I using?
ACK!
-- Adam
SLDave wrote in to request his database be slashdotted.
MARIJUANA, SHROOMS, X: ONLINE?! - E
Interesting stuff, but this seems pretty primitive. From a human interface point of view, I can't help feel that having to keep moving your head to move the pointer is going to cause neck strain, especially for tasks that involve a lot of "mousing".
A few years ago, there were some consumer cameras which used a laser to detect where you were looking the viewfinder, and then focussed on that area. Something like that seems to have a lot more potential, and would make the suggested "blink to click" metaphor much easier to implement as well...
hands free mouse that covered by Slashdot some time ago.
They say that in the intro.
I hope you're not pretending to be evil while secretly being good. That would be dishonest.
whoohoo! slashdoted, but not only the webserver, but i guess also their smtp mail server. go slashdot, go!!!
> There seems to have been a slight problem with the database.
> Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
> An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.
...and this supposedly /saves/ work?
What I mean to say is that your head doesn't move in a purely horizontal (or vertical) fashion; rather, it swivels atop your neck. So as one nears the extremes -- trying to move the cursor to the right screen edge, for instance -- there would be less purely horizontal motion for the camera to detect, since the silver dot is describing a curve.
Maybethe product compensates for this at the edges? Or detects depth? I don't know, but I'd be interested in finding out.
vBulletin vBulletin Message The server is too busy at the moment. Please try again later.
/.
...make sure your server can handle
;)
---- El diablo esta en mis pantalones! Mire, mire!
Clown just slashdotted HIMSELF. How ballsy is that? =)
____________________________
What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?
"Make me one with everything."
Your head will get tired, your eye's won't. Check out this link and look at their tool.
Back in the day, a Nevada company called Stride made a microcomputer with a head-mounted input device called "the Nod". ISTR that the computer was a 68K system and that Jerry Pournell of _Byte_ was enamored by the thing.
How hard would it be to figure out (given a fair training cycle) the orientation of a users head?
The human head isn't THAT iregular of a shape(ok some people).
couldn't you also track the movement of key color groupings as the head moves?
This seems cool but:
1) how do you click the mouse? (it would be cool to do it by blinking one eye or the other)
2) I am not sticking a dot to my head. I can barely remember to take my head phones off before I leave my desk (CHOKE!!) I dread the idea of going all afternoon not remembering to take that stupid dot off.
I would rather be ashes than dust!
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database. Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
Do you want to remove linux?
This site is toast.
I wonder when somebody's going to decide to sue the living shit out of Slashdot for killing their site, therefore costing them downtime, robbing them of ad income, etc.
Now *that* would be funny. And well-deserved, actually. Killing people's sites is bad, mmm-kay.
--riney
Now if only someone would develop the hands-free porn appreciation machine. My forearms could finally get some relief.
Instead of the silver dots to use it, I want to put 4 General's stars on my forehead like that guy on The Young Ones (Adrian Edmundson?)
Definitely worth a look for us truly lazy folks.
I'm too lazy to control the mouse pointer with head movements. Head too heavy to move so much. Hand movements easier.
I want a direct wireless attachment to my brain so it can read my thoughts. Just as long as it doesn't send them to the government or to marketing agencies.
Interesting idea for an alternate pointing device, but do you really want to point your forehead where you want to mouse? I dunno about you all but this sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen, whiplash anyone?
Also, do use geeks really need to make this sort of fashion statement? Some kind of Silicon Valley, "I'm married to my tech-obsession" thing, ala Hindu tradition.
All levity aside, I see how this device could help people, such as paraplegics. Although, I'm thinking that the related technology many of us are more interested in is the ability to mouse with eye movement, as I believe the US Air Force already uses with considerable sophistication, or even better, pointing/typing through brain waves.
Oh c'mon, I thought it was funny:
"Pros
Comes with many replacement dots
Cons
Oh wait, it wasn't TRYING to be funny?Wearing something that has silver dots on it"
...and this is supposed to save work?
NEW YORK -- AOL Time Warner Inc. (AOL), the world's largest Internet and media company, on Wednesday posted a $54.2 billion net loss, the largest ever U.S. quarterly net loss, after taking a whopping charge for accounting changes.
Ha Ha!
http://www.dansdata.com/trackir.htm
I saw a hands free mouse a few years ago at a research fair for accessi/handicap technology. It was a sweat band like apparatus with three electrodes to collect signals from the brain and a wire going down to a largish box that did heavy signal processing. It was an impressive demo even if movement was a bit shaky. The demonstrator tended to over shoot the target quite often, especially when he tried to talk at the same time. With a little practice or concentration he could get quite smooth control.
Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
"As an American, I am a fat, lazy, ignorant idiot who is willing to spend too much money on something that is totally worthless and plugs into my USB port(s)"
Seems like moving my entire head might be more work than small hand movements.
Try this exercise: Pick five points on your monitor, and flick your mouse to them quickly. Then try aiming your head at them.
It reminds me not to use mySQL or PHP ever again,
and people wonder why its free !
\_{~_^}_/
I got one of these a few months ago because of the acking pains in my wrists from .... typing yeah, typing and I can personally attest to the quality of this product. All day long a move my head along and the cursor follows. I never have pains in my wists anym Aahhh!, FUCK my neck. SOBs Damnit HELP, HELP!
I don't know about the rest of you, but I work an awful lot of the time with headphones on, and my head bobs to the beat pretty much nonstop... I hope the system is smart enough not to scroll up, scroll down, scroll up, scroll down, scroll up...
He looked at me and said, "Kid, we don't like your kind, and we're gonna send your fingerprints off to Washington."
So would this thing work with a tongue stud?
As an American, I like doing things the easiest way possible.
Finally, a mouse that appeals to my sense of patriotism!
Perhaps we can assume from this quote, that the company also supports the US policy of mucking around in the middle east so we can keep driving our SUVs. Because, as americans, this is easier for us than mass transit or alternative power.
Be lazy! Anything else would be unamerican!
Know what I like about atheists? I've yet to meet one that believes God is on their side.
Gorilla Neck?
This has always been a goal of mine as well. I've turned into a real hot-key junky, and hate it when someone builds an app with a lousy tab-order, or whatever.
But whatever they come up with, it's gotta work well enough to keep me competavie in UT and Tribes2, or there's no point. I'd be willing to forgive a learning curve, but the capability has to be there for twitch-games.
~ Nonsanity
Now I can get carpal neck, as well...
These comments and opinions are mine and mine alone, although they shouldn't be.
From Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
"A loud clatter of gunk music flooded through the Heart of Gold cabin as Zaphod searched the sub-etha radio bands for news of himself. The machine was rather difficult to operate. For years, radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons, and turning dials; then as technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch sensitive - you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope. It saved a lot of muscular expenditure, of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same program."
I can't think of a good reason why the silver dots this thing tracks have to be restricted to being placed on the head. I would put them on my palm just so I could wave my hand and say "this is not the web page I am looking for" and have it work. Could also be useful for when I am lacking a flat surface for my mouse.
Why?!?!
People have tried to make "button-less keyboards" and mice before, and they don't work, because pushing a button, or a mouse is actually easier than moving nothing.
Try this. Hold your hands apart, and as fast as you can, move one to the other. Try to get very close, but don't hit them. When you stop your hands, do it abruptly, without slowing down. Repeat.
Now try it with your hand on something smooth, sliding on a desk. (like a mouse). This simulates the action of moving a mouse cursor to a target on screen.
While this device is used for the head, not hands, the principle is the same. Resistance may make the quantity of a motion harder, it does make control easier.
Humans have been manipulating things with their hands for ages. That is what they are for. Why should we go against nature?
-twb
They've already got a monkey doing this. Couple of implants in its brain lets it control a cursor.
EurekaAlert
They've also got one controlling a robotic arm.
bbc article
Human tests are only a few years away.
If they could find a way to send feedback to the brain it could feel like any other part of your body.
It seems like it would be possible to develop reflective contact lenses to achieve the same effect. It'd have to be more precise though. Winking would be the obvious choice for clicking. If you don't want the mouse moving while you read, simply close your eyes for a second or two and it stops sending mouse commands. Close them for another brief moment and it reactivates. IR technology isn't my field though, so I could just be talking out of my butt. Personally, I'd like to see this happen...I'm too lazy to move my head.
tejo mahalaya?!?!?!???????????????(some hare krishna from california)
indus saraswati river valley?(sunken city)
c/o yeah !!!!moderation
this propaganda is great because it comes from a lower caste perspective unfortunately it doesn't do much to forward the positive aspects of the subcontinental culture and religion. For a unifying perspective a good starting point is any non-dualist (one of the schools of vedanta) philosophy.
If anyone here has worked in heavy manfg. or industry where you need to use a computer on the shop floor or at a workstation on a shop floor you'll know how quickly a mouse will die, I can see a thousand diffrent applications besides the use for "lazy people".
Om, nomnomnom...
The first implementation of this kind of thing was 1994, Stride Micro.
This is now a pretty common tool for the disabled (someone correct me, is it now 'differently enabled?) usually combined with a rubber bulb that fits in your mouth for 'puffing' mouse clicks .
Problem is, the volumes are so low for that market (or are the companies gouging?) that these units are like $1000 US each. How was Stride able to produce a unit with 1984 technology for less than $200 and these clowns need to charge disabled people $1000?
I can't believe they're trying to compete with touch screens. I think the idea of touch screens would fair better than such a device
... lasted about 2 days, it's been in the closet since then.
I've used one myself actually, and it works pretty well, uses an edge detection system. The main purpose for it's creation here was for helping the disabled, due to a bill passed down from the Legislature in Gauteng Province (and later from the legislature in Cape Town), copied in part below:
"... and that steps should be taken to ensure the use of all governmental computing facilities for the blind, deaf, physically impared, and nude natalie portmans that have been petrified by having hot grits poured on them."
I worked in a lab that provided computer access technologies (braille printers, keyboard and mouse alternatives, voice control, puff switches, etc.) for people with disabilities and there are some pretty cool technologies out there.
When I started we had a head mouse but now there are a few eye tracking alternatives:
Eyegaze from LC technologies, Eyecan, and Eyetech. I'm sure there are more out there.
Ooooooh, I could reeeally use some extra cyber-enhanced appendages. Bwaahahaahaaaaa!
Does anyone know if the mouse is porn friendly?? It'll be tough for this to beat the Logitech wireless, complete with back button and scroll wheel.
Yeah, and those REALLY lazy ones that sit in a chair all day everywhere they go...you know the ones, I think they're called paralyzed?
Really...it pays once in a while to think of how technology like this can be used to benefit others rather than how it could let you be lazier. A hands-free mouse interface would definately let certain handicapped people use the computer where they couldn't before. I know there are probably other 'accessibility devices' out there, but most of them are pretty expensive. A mass marketed hands-free device would let bring the cost down and let people who don't have the benefit of use of their arms anymore really use a computer a lot easier.
I just found a new sig.
okay is coloquial for OK which is short for "all correct"
about the supposed lower caste propaganda, it turns out to be christian missionary work and only portrayed as lower caste (sudra or dalit). It is difficult to distinguish sometimes becasue for example nehru-gandhi dynasty-ites, indian-marxists, etc. seem to all hold the "aryan" invasion as being the beginning of indian "high" culture. So in posturing as the voice of oppressed minorities it is acutally just an excuse to portray hinduism as a grouping of primitive cults and sects divided by physical "racial" indicators.
Let me guess: if you sneeze your computer reboots. Seriously though, I'd hate to use this thing with a cold. Although, it would simulate the experience of using Windows 98 quite nicely.
This may be a usable tool in a simple, single-monitor configuration. What happens when a user has multiple PCs?
For example, my ideal work environment is one where I've got (at least) 3 PCs; each having its own monitor. The left-most system is where I do my coding and debugging. The middle system is where I run the application exactly as if I were a user (i.e. QA). The right-most system is where I run analysis tools on the output, log files, etc. (It may seem extravagent, but I've never seen a DESK with a 17-inch diagonal -- more/bigger monitors give me a larger "desk" on which to work.)
How in the world could I use this head-tracking mouse on such a setup? From what I read in the article the head-tracking system can become confused when there are other shiny things in its field of view (e.g. silver rings; I'd hate to imagine what dangling earrings would do!).
I'd need a head-tracking receiver for each PC and monitor, and I've only got one head ;^) So, as I'm working away on the middle PC, these receivers on the other PCs are going to be reading my head motions and mousing all over the place! Okay, so I'd need to use the keyboard to actually "click" on anything, so that's not a problem, right?
Wrong! With all the tool-tips, ONMOUSEOVER, ONMOUSEOUT, etc. that we've got these days, I can easily imagine this scenario:
By the end of the day, I'm going to have one very sore neck, a splitting headache, and accomplished nothing more than making a lot of things flash before my eyes. Sounds like all the benefits of a hangover with out the pleasure of getting drunk. :(
On the other hand, should these become popular, just think of all the fun you could have with your co-workers on April Fool's Day!
> Definitely worth a look for us truly lazy folks And disabled folk?
Definitely worth a look for us truly lazy folks.
Well I have a feeling its for more than that. A guy that worked with my Mom had Lou Gehrig's Disease and, as he slowly lost control of his body, ended up using a lot of hands free technology.
This corner of the technology market existence based upon physically disabling afflictions, not laziness. Personally I wish that there was no need for it.
What is music when you despise all sound?
To quote:
Here's how it works, the TrackIR has 2 basic parts that make it work. The first is a camera that mounts on the top of your computer and second part is silver dots which you stick on your forehead... The camera sends out infrared signals and the silver dots bounce the signals back to the TrackIR.
Notwithstanding the fact that you're glueing felt dots to your head, you are actually intentionally aiming an infrared transmitter at your cranium! With the talk about cel phones and tumours going about today this one's got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. Whoever dreamed this up must have spent a few too many hours "beta" testing.
Next thing you know they'll announce a power amplifier that lets you control the mouse from over a mile away and keeps your head toasty warm in a snowstorm...
Anyone else notice that the natural point website site says "a cool idea ~slashdot.com". Now i know that slashdot.com will redirect you to slashdot.org, but STILL. i think they could have tried a bit harder to make their reviews a bit more accurate. Maybe its just me being stupid.
> Definitely worth a look for us truly lazy folks.
or folks who get wrist fatigue/carpal from mice
All everyone seems to talk about this product is the disabled. I haven't seen anyone mention the enormous leap in productivity for programmers that would result from having both hands on the keyboard at all time. It's like being Zimbu the monkey from Dilbert and having full control of both the mouse and keyboard at the same time.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this product will make up for that efficiency since it looks like its much harder to precisely click on things. But advancements in this field would be greatly desired and I'd personally pay up to 300 bucks for something that would free my hand from my mouse (not for that reason sicko).
-Jacques
jc@cs.washington.edu
They were using open source beowulf clusters to run a CCD camera which tracked the reflection in your eye (after being calibrated to your eyes geometry) to determine the position you were looking at, then two blinks for left click, three blinks for right click.
It would still be interesting without OSS and Beowulf clusters, but it probably would'nt get onto slashdot.
And returned it. I have RSI, and I was hoping to give my hands a rest. I ended up with a neck ache and frustrated by the mouse's quirky behavior.
It bugged me that the mouse was constantly moving around the screen unless I used the mode that hides the cursor. To activate that mode, I had to press a key, so I ended up using the keyboard all the time. It was also hard to control the pointer with any accuracy.
The Track IR is well packaged and the software works, but I wouldn't recommend using one unless you have to.
Sage, a 68000 computer from the early 1980s that was later renamed Stride, was available with this kind of input device. The exact same silver dot and IR "camera". There was a review or two in Byte Magazine around 1986...
For over $100 I get something that has poor tracking, only works in bloody windows and makes me look like more of a dork than a segway scooter would? Yeh, I think I'll stick with my Logitech wireless for a while.
sic transit gloria mundi
Well, I mean...If your mother walks in on you while you were looking at porn, the excuse of "I wasn't looking at that!" is impossible to make!
-- Bandit450...If-Else-Do-*TWITCH*!
somthing that i've not seen commented on here are the applications for disabled people. Sure everyone thinks that using your hands is the easiest thing in the world, but what about if you have no hands, or no arm, or can't operate your elbow or wrist, etc. Look at someone like Stephen Hawking, I know he doesn't have enough control over his head movements to use this, but as an alternative interface it sounds very interesting.
Also what's the range on these things? Could you use it for a physical type game where you have to run and jump around a room to interact with what's on the screen?
What about someone who has carpal tunnel sysndrom (even though some experts think it's not real) or some other disability that prevents use of the mouse (like maybe even, at an extreme, a missing limb or two)? Are these people "lazy" for using something that doesn't require hands?
Sorry the comment about "definately worth a look for us lazy folks" just hit me all wrong.
I know for myself lots of mouse (for work, not playing games) usage can cramp my wrist and hand and make my fingers a bit numb. I actually did have to stave off playing the more mouse intensive games because I was afraid I was encouraging a repeatative movement ailment. I am only thankful my current job is not mouse intensive all the time.
CTS of the neck, anyone?
It's perfectly possible that something like this already happens. Did it ever occur to you that the site user still wants to know that something is being done about it? Do your error notification routines say "I would have sent an email to the site admin but becuase I'm such a clever bastard I didn't".
Thought so.
Come on, people. We don't all have to be smug gits.
Smug Git.
can't wait til someone hacks it...
DISCLAIMER:
I don't believe what I write, and neither should you.
You don't need that expensive software and do not need to sick silver dot to your head to control your computer. Just use this software from http://www.cv.iit.nrc.ca/research/Nouse/ with your conventional webcam. Nouse will track image of your nose (hence the name Nouse). Control computer with your NOSE %)
Concern 10: If only it worked in Linux, Mac OS, windows 3.0, etc.
Reply : Several members of our development community are working on linux drivers. And if we sense a lot of interest in a certain platform (like the macintosh OS. nudge nudge), we'll go ahead and crank out drivers for it.
Cheers,
-j.
I have this device, as well as IBM ViaVoice. Excellent combination, especially when you get that carpal-tunnel-ish pain. As an added bonus, you can stick the silver dot on the front of the headset mic, which works quite well for tracking.
If you insist on 100% hands-free, you can also use the "Voice Mouse" feature to kick in when you say "click", "double-click", etc.
.micah
--- Learn XForms today: http://xformsinstitute.com
...So here's the text of the article. ...
The site is just fine. But I relly prefers mirrors. As for any loading problem: fist disable loading pictures in your browser.
-Point to the google cache (always good for a few karma points)
-Set up a local cache at your internet provider. (Pictures... i like shiny pictures.)
AMERICA IS BAD MKAY ?!