September 17, 2004
Updated Daily
Tech Trends
'Nouse' Lets Users Control Computer with Face Movement
By Jason Lopez
NewsFactor Network
The Nouse -- for "nose as mouse" -- has obvious benefits for computer users with disabilities that prevent them from operating a mouse. But it also could have applications in electronic kiosks, defense and space flight.
What's the next big thing in computer interfaces, foot pedals?
No. The answer, actually, is as plain as the nose on your face. The Nouse is based on the recognition of universal facial movements. The inventor, Dmitry Gorodnichy of the Canadian National Research Council's Institute of Information Technology unit, says the technology is ready to be licensed now.
Follow Your Nose
The Nouse -- for "nose as mouse" -- has an obvious application for computer users with disabilities that prevent the operation of a mouse. A person sitting in front of a screen can move the pointer through movements of their nose and eyelids.
The technology uses a Web cam as the interface between face and computer. Based on perceptual vision technology, it looks at a user's face and remembers the tip of the nose in a region comprised of about 25 pixels. As a user moves his or her face, the nose must follow -- and the pointer also moves. The eyelids take the place of clicking. Double blink and the nouse comes to life. Blink the left eye to left-click. A blink of the right eye is a right-click.
Source: NewsFactor Network
View Complete Article