Using the Computer

There are various accessibility features built in to an Operating System. For visually impaired people the Operating System Accessibility feature usually is the Voice Over option. This option will read anything what is on screen. To make this system better a voice recognition recorder will be introduce to give orders/functions to the computer (ex. Open ‘My Documents’, Open ‘Web Browser’).

Head tracking system to move mouse pointer

Head tracking is one of the most ideal way to navigate through the computer. To make the head tracking mouse pointer work the computer interface must be properly split up into a grid-like interface.

Basically to navigate around the screen, a webcam will track the mov

ement of the head and determine where the user is looking, hence moving to the desired location on the interface.

Figure 1: Head Tracking System

Interface

The interface will be split up into a grid. This will ma

ke it easier for the user when navigating through the system. To m

ake it simple to use, the system will be using a tool such as PowerCursor so as to pinpoint exactly the clickable areas.

Figure 2: Grid Interface Prototype

For the head tracking system to work properly, each cell will require a force field element used by PowerCursor as this will make the pointer adjust itself properly once on the good cell.

For example let’s say you would like to access the ‘Recycle Bin’ displayed in figure 2. From the eye-level position the user must look upwards until informed (by the Voice Over) that it’s row 1, then looks to the left. Once the pointer starts moving slowly to the left, PowerCursor is snapping it to the middle of the cells as it moves. Once it reaches Cell 1, the Voice Over will read ‘Recycle Bin’ and the pointer is adjusted on the clickable area automatically. If the user presses the Voice Command Input Button and says ‘Enter’ the recycle bin window opens.