Claro FaceMouse

Overview
Features
Screenshots
Trial
Specification

Overview

Claro FaceMouse is a software solution designed to assist people who have difficulty using traditional computer input methods. Using face and head movement, users can move the mouse pointer using only a standard webcam. This enables navigation around the computer screen with ease.

Coupling Claro FaceMouse with Oska on screen keyboards enables users to read, write, play games and surf the net, further widening their use of a computer.

Claro FaceMouse uses standard webcams to allow your face to control and move the computer’s mouse pointer. Claro FaceMouse will smoothly control the mouse pointer by following head movements and facial gestures and actions (such as mouth opening and closing, or eyebrow movement).

Claro FaceMouse Toolbar

Moving the head left, right, up or down will move the mouse pointer on the screen in the same direction.

Claro FaceMouse is beneficial for a range of computer users with physical disabilities. If a user doesn’t have enough motor control for a physical mouse or joystick, Claro FaceMouse presents a novel, valid hands-free, non-contact method for controlling the mouse pointer, mouse clicking and keyboard.

Claro FaceMouse is also beneficial for other environments where non-contact, hands-free control of a computer is required. Examples include clean environments, non-contact environments, and computing at a distance.

Claro FaceMouse effectively turns the user's head into a remote 'joystick' controller. Claro FaceMouse has a variable setting for sensitivity, making the mouse pointer easier to control. Specific head or facial actions can be linked to keyboard presses. 'Head Down' can be assigned as the 'Down Cursor', and 'Mouth Open' could be 'Enter Key'. All the various face actions can be assigned to a keystroke.

Claro FaceMouse also has a 'Game Mode' which allows for assigned keys to operate as 'Press and Hold' until another action is made. In addition, the Claro FaceMouse scripts enable each action to be different, depending on which software application is being used.

For example, 'Head Down' could be normally be 'Press cursor Key down' – but when Adobe Acrobat Reader is the active application, 'Head Down' action changes to 'Page Down'; and so on. The Actions can also be linked to keyboard numbers (0,1,2,3) meaning that the Claro FaceMouse can be used to operate switch accessible or controlled software.

Claro FaceMouse also operates as an additional mouse input device – so it does not stop other mice or controllers being used on the computer. So Claro FaceMouse can bring in an additional control mechanism for when the hands are being used already. This is of interest in certain computer gaming and animation environments. Claro FaceMouse is tolerant of different lighting conditions and environments – and allows for movement on the seat.

Related Datasheets:
» Claro FaceMouse Data Sheet
» Claro FaceMouse User Guide

Features

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Clicking The Mouse Without Touching It

Claro FaceMouse is a novel hands-free technique for quickly controlling normal mouse control, now activated by the mouth. You can choose the mouse function at the point that the cursor sites – no need to move to a virtual mouse button elsewhere on the screen. The combination of face control of the mouse pointer, and mouth control of the mouse click makes Claro FaceMouse fast and efficient to use.

With Claro FaceMouse you can use 'mouse button scanning' that allows any mouse button to be operated. More precisely, in the multi-click mouth mode, opening the mouth starts the scanning around the mouse functions. It sequences through left click, right click, double click, click and drag, and cancel. The speed of the sequencing can be increased as users quickly become familiar with this scanning technique.

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Fast To Setup

Another advantage of Claro FaceMouse is that no lengthy or tricky calibrations are required. It is quick to acquire any user's face when that user is sat in front of the web cam. It will keep locked onto the face even if you move around, move closer, or move away. If you change the seating position or lighting conditions, the user can easily ask Claro FaceMouse to re-acquire the Face. If you are a glasses wearer, Claro FaceMouse can still be used.

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Controlling The Mouse Movement

Claro FaceMouse is innovative in using face acquisition technology, turning the head into a 'joystick controller' for controlling the mouse. With a joystick, you move the stick – and the mouse pointer keeps moving – until you return the joystick to the centre (normally by letting go).

With Claro FaceMouse, your head is the joystick – and moving the head right starts the mouse moving to the right. Moving the face back to the centre stops the mouse moving. You can vary the speed at which the mouse point moves, and the acceleration of the mouse pointer. These settings can be different for horizontal and vertical motion, allowing for the differing ranges of motion of the head in the different directions. For example, you may only want to move your head slightly up or down to launch the mouse pointer movement – but be able to move your head more left and right allowing for a different speed sensitivity.

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Pausing Claro FaceMouse

Another feature of FaceMouse is that it can be paused at any time – if the phone rings, or your attention is diverted, you can point at the 'Pause' button. Claro FaceMouse in fact goes to sleep, and you can awaken it by looking at the top right of your screen, and it counts down before coming back to action!

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Background To Claro FaceMouse

Why was Claro FaceMouse developed? Claro have been tracking the development of facial acquisition technology, and it got to a point where we realised it was now good enough to deploy for assistive technology. So after significant investment in face acquisition technology, development of the controller mechanisms, and initial user testing, we got to create Claro FaceMouse. We are excited to present an innovative alternative product to the world market. FaceMouse is quick and easy to localise, and also adapts to bespoke software applications by writing custom scripts. Everyone who has seen Claro FaceMouse has been enthusiastically positive, so we just want to ensure we can present a professionally developed assistive product to the market – with full support and continued development into the future.

Some of the Claro team had worked on award winning infrared head mouse technology at University of Manchester, England. This gave Claro the experience to realise that combining the current face acquisition technology would deliver a tool that could be easily trialled by users around the world.

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Claro FaceMouse Advantages

No special hardware is required – no hats, dots, infra red cameras, eye tracking cameras or head or mouth pointers are needed now that Claro FaceMouse is available.
Claro FaceMouse is tolerant of different lighting conditions and environments – and allows for movement on the seat.
Claro FaceMouse enables education, recreation and communication.
Coupling Claro FaceMouse with Oska on screen keyboards enables users to read, write, play games and surf the net, further widening their use of a computer. Claro FaceMouse
Game mode holds buttons down and allows for PC gaming. Scripts also allow for the linking of actions to specific applications.
If lighting conditions change during a computer users session, then it is possible to 're-acquire' your face at any time.
Claro FaceMouse has a useful training indicator within the settings screen. The indicator shows the position of your face, so confirms the direction that the mouse is travelling in. This gives visual feedback of the position of the head, and helps with developing fine control of the mouse pointer using Claro FaceMouse.
Claro FaceMouse can be used in conjunction with other input methods, such as big mice, switches or Tactix Touchpad, so Claro FaceMouse can be part of a system.

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Claro FaceMouse - How Does It Work?

Claro FaceMouse uses standard equipment (Windows machine, webcam) so it’s cheap, and highly-configurable and flexible. Other AT technology can be used with it including many OSK programs, or communicator software. Claro FaceMouse can be installed on laptops, tablets and desktops, so a machine that fits the space and purpose can be used (a desk versus a wheelchair).
It quick and easy to get Claro FaceMouse – just download and install.
Users don’t need to use a mouse any more, but can still control the computer completely. FaceBook, Word/Email/ Office, Games.
Claro FaceMouse doesn’t get confused by eye movement, which is constant and hard to control.
It can be configured specifically for the user’s movement requirements – sensitive, small, big, wild. Claro FaceMouse can be told to stop taking notice of movement a user can’t control (e.g. side to side shaking) and only notice controlled movement (e.g. mouth opening).
Claro FaceMouse is easy, because it uses standard equipment like a Windows machine and webcam, and because it’s easy to use, it shows your face so you can line up the camera easily and all the settings are in one place, so someone non-technical can help you use it. You don’t need a load of technicians coming in to change the smallest thing.

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Why Is Claro FaceMouse Cool?

Claro FaceMouse uses standard equipment (Windows machine, webcam) so it’s cheap, and highly-configurable and flexible. Other AT technology can be used with it including many OSK programs, or communicator software. Claro FaceMouse can be installed on laptops, tablets and desktops, so a machine that fits the space and purpose can be used (a desk versus a wheelchair).
It quick and easy to get Claro FaceMouse – just download and install.
Users don’t need to use a mouse any more, but can still control the computer completely. FaceBook, Word/Email/ Office, Games.
Claro FaceMouse doesn’t get confused by eye movement, which is constant and hard to control.
It can be configured specifically for the user’s movement requirements – sensitive, small, big, wild. Claro FaceMouse can be told to stop taking notice of movement a user can’t control (e.g. side to side shaking) and only notice controlled movement (e.g. mouth opening).
Claro FaceMouse is easy, because it uses standard equipment like a Windows machine and webcam, and because it’s easy to use, it shows your face so you can line up the camera easily and all the settings are in one place, so someone non-technical can help you use it. You don’t need a load of technicians coming in to change the smallest thing.