Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!utstat!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!pilchuck!dataio!aez From: aez@Data-IO.COM (Adam Zilinskas) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: Re: one-finger keyboard Message-ID: <2184@dataio.Data-IO.COM> Date: 25 Oct 89 16:38:35 GMT References: <1989Oct6.221013.8269@agate.berkeley.edu> <1259@cbnewsj.ATT.COM> <783@cogsci.ucsd.EDU> <16448@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU> <10068@ucsd.Edu> <35994@srcsip.UUCP> Reply-To: aez@dataio.Data-IO.COM () Distribution: comp Organization: Data I/O Corporation; Redmond, WA Lines: 29 In article <35994@srcsip.UUCP> cmiller@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Chris Miller) writes: >A recurring theme in the hardware of science >fiction novels seems to be the "tongue switch" ... There is a control mechanism made for quadraplegics (spelling?) that uses a straw and the user will blow and suck to signal his/her request. I saw someone use one for controlling a typewriter. The now defunct Logo Lab in MIT was playing with different keyboards and input devices for handicapped people. One that works well is a console that has the alphabet in lights, each character would light up in sequence, when the user wanted that character/command, he/she would press a paddle (blow in a straw, or whatever they were capable of). It was not fast, but it could be worked by people with little muscle control (multiple sclerosis and such). Thinking about MS people, they have the problem that their nervous system deteriorates at their extremities first, they will have useless hands but a nimble tounge. I wonder how small and spittle-proof force gauges could be made to make a "tounge-mouse" with X,Y,Z force measurement. The user would then tip the sensor with the tounge to move a cursor ala joystick then press down to select. Like the stenographers using syllables, a handicap interface for real time control (like wheelchair, robot arms ...) should use reasonable high level commands for those acutely handicapped (imagine trying to steer a wheelchair stright for 20 feet then turn right by constanly blowing and sucking on a straw for over a minute). Adam Zilinskas