Mouse Adapter for Tremors

Reported June 2005

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- For many of us, using a computer mouse is second nature. But not for the millions of Americans who suffer from tremors. Now a new product helps make navigating a PC easier.

Eight-two-year-old Bob Schubert experiences daily frustration when he gets on the computer. "It's just a pain in the neck!" he says. Bob suffers from tremors. "Just as you get it, you put your finger on the wrong button and low and behold, it's all lost."

Now Schubert has a helping hand, thanks to this mouse adapter, invented by IBM physicist, Jim Levine, Ph.D. "It means the person with tremors can smoothly do something with the computer he couldn't do before," Levine tells Ivanhoe.

Using a mathematical equation, the adapter takes the motion data coming from the mouse and filters out the high-frequency portion, or any quick shaking from tremors. It then sends a slow, steady motion to the computer.

Levine says, "It's using a digital filter, which is sort of like the treble control on a hi-fi set, except rather than doing it with voltages, it's done with data."

Without the adapter, Schubert struggles to get the cursor still enough to click on the links. With it, he is able to easily bring up Web pages. "Anything that helps in getting away from the shaking part is a plus in my life," he says.

The adapter costs about $100. Schubert says it's the best hundred dollars he'll ever spend.

The mouse adapter is manufactured by a British company and is available for purchase on-line.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202
Washington, D.C. 20036-5104
(202) 785-0017
ieeeusa@ieee.org
http://www.ieee.org

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
PO Box 1369
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(310) 394-1811
http://www.hfes.org

IBM’s Accessibility Center
http://www.IBM.com/able

IETF support groups around the country:
http://www.essentialtremor.org/seeking_help/support_groups.shtml

International Essential Tremor Foundation
(888) 387-3667
http://www.essentialtremor.org

American Association of People with Disabilities
(800) 840-8844



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