Computer

Input devices for physically challenged computer users

Nowadays, there are many input or output devices designed for physically challenged computer users. There are many alternative devices, such as foot mouse, foot trackball, head mounted pointers, and chin mounted joysticks, and eye tracking devices, and voice recognition systems for the people who cannot use their hands for using computers.

A head operated joystick or mouse and use a keyboard emulator may based on techniques that built-in for different slop or rotation detectors or makersÐ'ÐŽÐ'Ї detectors sensors that track targets placed on a userÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs spectacles or forehead; analysis of laser light detectors from a userÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs head. Eagle eyes, which is for eye tracking device allows a person to control the computer by moving eyes or head. The method is based on the capacity of electro oculographic potential, through electrodes placed on the head. With the help of Eagle eyes, people can run software, spell out messages, and navigate through the internet just by moving their eyes (Gips 44/5-13).

Most popular input device for people with different neuromuscular disease is tongue point or tongue touched keypad (An isometric tongue pointing device). According to Shumin Zhai, a tongue point mouth piece is similar to dental night guard or sports mouth guard, which is form fitted to each individualÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs upper teeth and hard pallet. Because of this fixture, the user may relax at normal jaw posture when wearing the mouthpiece, also speaking with the tongue point inserted in the mouth is also possible. There are two switches were designed for button selection. First one is a molecular bite switch that can be attached to anywhere between the upper and lower teeth so as to allow for button selection by biting. Second one is linked to the outside of the mouth, which is provided so as to