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For PC Compatible computers running MS Windows versions

NaturalPoint trackIR- 295 from Eye Control Technologies Inc.

The NaturalPoint trackIR, available from Spectronics, is a hands-free mouse. You control your computer cursor hands-free, thereby eliminating wrist strain and increase productivity by simply moving your head with this ergonomic mouse alternative. More importantly, it is a low cost, powerful new communication tool. trackIR assists people with disabilities in accessing their computers as an innovative and easy to use head tracking system. It can also be accessed using one or two switches.

The NaturalPoint trackIR was developed by Eye Control Technologies Inc. in the USA. NaturalPoint trackIR mouse gives you hands free control of a computer cursor. The ergonomic trackIR provides precise cursor control through simple head movements, allowing your hands to remain on your keyboard, or at your side. It assists users who have:

• No hand movement
• Limited movement
• Unreliable movement due to a physical disability, trauma or repetitive strain injury

In order to use this device with some degree of success and accuracy, you must be able to control head or finger movements.

You can also use two additional different modes, using a ring or a wand (available separately as additional input devices). The “ring” allows a person to use their finger to point to the screen. It all happens in real time, as you move your head or finger. To click or use the mouse functions, you can assign keyboard “Hot Keys”, simply “dwell” or use switches. The dwell time can be adjusted, so that users can learn to master the system over time. The software has a very useful and practical Gravity feature that increases user speed and accuracy by causing the cursor to briefly lock onto the centre of icons and check boxes. It is extremely useful in locating and selecting items in dialogue boxes. The minimize, restore and close icons in a window as well as small target areas in programs can be more easily controlled. You can activate the Gravity feature, or turn it off at any time.

How it Works

1. You install the software onto your MS Windows based computer.
2. Then you connect the USB cable into one of the available ports (e.g. most PC’s or Notebooks have at least one USB port. If one is not available, you may have to purchase a 4-user USB hub).
3. Restart your computer and double click on the icon that has been automatically placed onto your desktop.

A program window appears. This is your program menu. It can be accessed and controlled by mouse or by the trackIR system. This window can be minimized once you have set up the user’s configuration.

A small black camera (it only weighs 77 grams!) can be mounted on top of your monitor, whether it is a desktop PC or Notebook. The camera tracks the location of a reflective dot to the computer screen. The dot is a small silver coloured re-useable target dot, measuring .6cm (1/4”). It can be placed anywhere on a person’s head, spectacles or head pointer. I tried using it on my nose… with great success! As you move your head, the cursor follows the ‘dot’. The software can be adjusted in speed so that smaller movements control the mouse direction and location more accurately. At first it seems quite strange, but you soon become accustomed to it.

A person can left-click, right-click, double-click and drag by holding the cursor still (i.e. dwelling) on an icon or button. You can set the Dwell-Clicking time in the configuration menu. The dwell feature, and switch access input methods will operate with all virtual keyboards and with other Windows-based accessibility programs. People using other devices can use trackIR simultaneously as they can operate the software independently, turning it on and off by themselves. They can control the settings too using the main menu at any time. This is so important for many users who wish to have more control over their technology. They do not have to ask for assistance or wait for someone to re-configure their equipment with the trackIR system. Experienced users can control the system and interface with games, productivity and presentation software or explore the Web. They can monitor their own performance, changing their trackIR settings as required, when required!

Menus

The onscreen main menu has a number of features that are immediately available upon launching the software. It appears centrally onscreen and adjusts according to the screen resolution (e.g. 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768). You elect to run trackIR in wand, ring or ‘dot’ mode. A dot is positioned on your head, or glasses. By moving your head, you move the cursor. You can set it to be key activated. Hot keys can be assigned to keys on the keyboard. The default keys are:

• Left click – the left Windows key
• Right click – the right Windows key
• Snap to Centre (of screen display) – the F12 key
• Scroll (as in scroll mouse function) – the F11 key

The behaviour of the cursor is modified by adherence to the Gravity feature. This can be turned on or off. Dwell-Clicking can be turned on in addition to Gravity. These features are mutually exclusive. Used together, a person can control their software with a great deal of independence and accuracy, be it a text-based communication program such as Windbag or an onscreen keyboard application such as HandsOFF! Profiles for different users can be set, saved and retrieved. This is useful in a centre, school or situation where multiple users are accessing the system. Each user can save their own profile with optimised settings and configuration to meet their individual needs and preferences. Once saved, they can be loaded and/or modified.

Advanced Settings

You can set the cursor to always start at the centre of the screen display. Key Release Clicking can be turned on as well. There are advanced settings. It is here where you set the

• Motion Properties (i.e. the scaling and smoothing from minimum to maximum settings)
• 2 x Scaling feature
• Mouse Override Delay
• Rotation (0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees)
• Double Click Delay
• Audible Click Sound
• Gravity setting to Buttons, Icons, Menus and/or Control Buttons
• Option to launch the software at start-up

The main window can be minimized and you can exit from the program with one click, or switch, or dwell. A warning informs you that you are opting to officially exit the software.

Features

• The trackIR can be used with a mouse or trackball, which is very important when setting up this type of system with a client or student. The trainer has full control over the program and computer in order to support and guide the learner.
• The program can be used with a sound card to provide speech synthesis
• For some clients, it will be an ideal addition to voice recognition software (e.g. Dragon Naturally Speaking) as the user can speak all other commands, and use trackIR for controlling the cursor in tandem
• As it is so light, portable and set up is performed very quickly, it is ideal with laptop and notebook systems
• No external power is required as it connects directly into the USB port. No extra cables and messy connections
• The IR pod camera is sleek, black and unobtrusive. It looks so elegant and space age!
• The user can define how they will use the system, and can save multiple profiles for themselves or others, including trainers who wish to learn the system alongside their clients/students/children
• Dwell-Clicking can be turned on and off by the user and Left-Clicking accessed via dwell or switch activation

Who Might Use the trackIR?

“The trackIR hands-free cursor control system is a breakthrough for people with ALS, spinal cord injuries, and other people with disabilities who require a hands free mouse alternative.”

The trackIR can be used by anyone who:

• Cannot use a mouse
• Prefers/opts not to use their mouse or trackball due to an injury, overuse syndrome of their hand(s)
• Has a physical disability
• Has experienced trauma in an accident

You can quickly and accurately access any software using the device. As there is minimum setup, people who have long-term injuries will enjoy being able to independently control their computer applications, games and access to the Internet and email.

It can be used with virtual keyboards. Onscreen keyboard programs provide keyboard templates that are accessed by moving the cursor to a key, then activating it by a mouse click by dwelling on the key (i.e. pausing over the area until a time elapses) or by pressing an external switch. (Note: A snap-action Lolly switch and cable is provided). People who use programs such as HandsOFF!, Windbag, Winspeak, Clicker 4, WordBar or Discover:Screen can now access the cells or keys in onscreen displays and enter text, call up programs, communicate to others using digitised and synthesized pre-programmed comments/phrases and play games with cursor arrows and keyboard shortcuts.

People who use voice recognition software can complement their system with trackIR. They can manipulate and direct the mouse using trackIR simultaneously with voiced commands controlling other PC operations and entering text into word processors, spreadsheets and database applications. Users who have no movement due to spinal chord injury can fully control their computer applications, opting to use voice and/or operate all mouse functions with this system, thus providing a level of confidence and autonomy. The switch accessory plugs directly into the left-hand side of the trackIR unit to provide remote clicking capability. At 3 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches the rectangular switch is easy to hit and can be placed on any flat surface. Or you can use any other preferred or customised switch.

The error trapping and onscreen directions are excellent. A central window alerts you to any loss of activation or function of the device. The dot (or ring/wand) must be visible and in range of the mounted camera. If not, a window display informs you that the camera cannot “see” the dot. The package contains a strip of 60 re-usable dots. They are sticky on one side and reflective silver on the other. I used one continually for training and trial purposes, taking it off and on my forehead and nose quite a few times. The adhesive was still usable after at least 10 tries. Additional dots can be purchased as can the ring and wand input devices (if required).

Additional Benefits

The system can also be used by presenters as a remote control in Wand mode. It is perfect for MS PowerPoint presentations as you can control the computer’s cursor, click and double click from across the room. The unit has a 50-degree field of view. As long as you are situated in this viewing area, you can control the computer. Adequate lighting is required, with direct sunlight or glare disturbing the field of vision and therefore accuracy.

There have been a number of eye gaze technologies and head pointing devices available over the past 15-20 years. The NaturalPoint trackIR-295 is lightweight, very affordable, easy to set up configure and master. It provides another access method to those who cannot use their mouse, or who would prefer another way of controlling their cursor. I recommend it as a practical and useful technology for those using later versions of MS Windows.

Installation

This elegant, sleek, modern looking tracking device is very easy to install and configure. The CD-ROM based software takes a few seconds to install onto your MS Windows 98SE, 2000 or ME computer. You require at least a Pentium 166 processor with 5 MB of free hard disk space. The program takes up about 24 megabytes of RAM when operating. The most crucial part is that you have a spare USB port for connection.

The kit includes:

• The trackIR unit itself
• The software on a CD ROM disk
• 60 reflective dots
• A 1.3 metre USB extension cable
• A Lolly Switch and cable
• A Click-Switch adapter cable

There is a well written A5 sized 36 page User’s Manual, that includes a Getting Started Section, Using the NaturalPoint trackIR and a useful Trouble Shooting section. Instructions are clearly explained with illustrations.