The Universitat de Lleida develops a virtual mouse for the disable

The University of Lleida developed a virtual mouse to help reduced mobility people access new technologies. The start up of the HeadMouse project is within the framework of the research conducted by the Indra-Adecco Foundation Chair and allows to control through a webcam and the movements of the head and the face. This open access and free tool can be obtained through a website, specifically designed for this purpose.

The professor of the Universitat de Lleida and Scientific Director of The Indra-Adecco Foundation, Dr. Jordi Palacín, explained during the presentation of the HeadMouse, how the device works. A low cost cam is used to translate the motions of the user, who must be located in front of the screen. Reduced-mobility people can use the motions of their heads to control the mouse, “drag” features included, while face motions stand for “click” features.

The system includes many innovations that facilitate access to new technologies and communications. By using artificial-vision algorithms, which have been basically developed for the mobile robotics sector, reduced mobility users can use the virtual mouse in a natural and intuitive way, without any kind of training or previous knowledge. In addition, with the software already installed, the user can access the configuration and modify the system parameters by him/herself.

The final result can be installed and ran for free in any computer equipped with a WebCam through http://robotica.udl.cat. This avant-garde application is conceived and designed for reduced-mobility people to access the new technologies world and will help more than 1.824.000* people with reduced mobility that currently live in Spain. Furthermore, the virtual mouse is globally oriented and could be used by anyone, regardless language, since none is determined, although the user’s guide is in Spanish and in English.

Continuity by the Indra-Adecco Foundation Chair of the UDL>/br>

Within the HeadMouse Project presentation, the Chancellor of the Universitat de Lleida, Joan Viñas; Indra’s General Director, Josep Maria Vilá; and Adecco Foundation’s General Director, Francisco Mesonero, have reaffirmed their commitment to social responsibility by signing a cooperation agreement. Therefore research, development and technology transfer activities are continued, as well as training and technology popularization in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Besides this, the new features of the HeadMouse project and the first steps to create a Virtual Coach in order to improve training aim at the objective of creating adequate workplaces so that the disable may have access to employment, as stated in the agreement.

To access the HeadMouse’s interactive demo:

http://robotica.udl.es/headmouse/videos/index.html

Universitat de Lleida is a public institution with approximately 8.148 students and 878 professors. It consists of seven centres and other three which are ascribed. The Universitat de Lleida is member of the Agency for the University System Quality in Catalonia and evaluates periodically and independently the university courses and services at institutional level.

Indra is the premier Information Technology Company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked among the two first European companies in its sector according to stock market capitalisation, and it is one of the three Spanish companies with more investment in R&D. In 2007, revenues will exceed € 2.150M** and the net income amounts € 148 M. The company employs more than 22.000 professionals and has clients in more than 80 countries.

Adecco Foundation achieves its social aim through cooperation agreements with entities and companies, designing and implementing social responsibility policies within the Human Resources framework and also by developing reorientation and integration programmes that help people who find more obstacles in their search for employment. The Adecco Foundation team has 350 branches.