What is Cymouse Technology?

Cymouse is a precision, six degree-of-freedom positional and angular head tracking device. The graphic below demonstrates the six degrees of freedom. The first three "degrees of freedom" are coordinate movements along the X, Y, and Z axes. A mouse is a 2-D peripheral, detecting movement along two of the three axes previously mentioned. Cymouse detects movement in all three, as well as rotation on those axes.

Rotation around the Z axis is known as roll. If you were to touch your ears to your shoulders you would need to "roll" your head. Around the Y axis rotation is called yaw. X axis rotation is known as pitch. The common gestures of shaking your head yes and no require pass drug test "pitching" and "yawing" your head. [AxisDefinition.gif]

Cymouse will work with any application written for the Windows operating system, version 2000 or XP (Windows 98 and ME compatibility coming soon.) Upon release, there will be two laptop batteries completely different versions of Cymouse Technology. The Miracle Mouse product is designed for those who are handicapped. This edition will come a software package designed to make hands free use of a computer easy, yet robust.

The Miracle Mouse weighs approximately 8 ounces and poses no additional strain on your neck when used. No health risks are associated with the device. The health risks associated with lasers and magnetic fields are well known. Cymouse uses Infrared Ligh, which is also used in TV remote control devices. The speed of the technology eliminates the latency commonly found in sonic devices.

The other version will be dedicated for gaming purposes. A custom game profiling software will accompany this edition to be called Cymouse. The most powerful benefit that Cymouse presents to a gamer is the ability to add control along 6 axis without disrupting the existing control setup. A complete Software Development Kit (SDK) will be available for those wishing to create custom Cymouse solutions and applications. Developer assistance will also be available.

The company commissioned an [9]ergonomic study of the head and related neck muscles. The initial two products, the Cymouse and the Miracle Mouse, were designed based on these studies. Even though the Cymouse Technology allows six degrees of freedom only four will be used in head mounted devices. A true 3D joystick product is planned which can take advantage of all six degrees of freedom. Since the human head and neck muscles naturally turn 30 degrees from center we designed Cymouse technology so that it allows complete control over the computer screen by turning only 30 degrees. For instance when you turn your head to the left or right, this is known as "yaw", you only need to turn 30 degrees off center to reach the side of the computer screen. When you look up or look down, this is known as "pitch", you only need to look up or down 30 degrees off center to reach the top or bottom of the screen. In addition to pitch and yaw head mounted Cymouse Technology allows control on the "X axis". This is where you move your head side to side in front of the computer screen. Also the head mounted controller allows control on the "Z Axis". This is when you move toward or away from the computer screen.

By allowing 8 distinct "controls" with your head you can have Cymouse Technology work with all of your existing computer control devices. Most people would already have a keyboard and mouse. Some people may have a joystick, speech recognition, trackball or other peripherals. Cymouse Technology will work with them all as long as they are USB peripherals. For instance in a video game you could have your mouse and keyboard for aiming and navigation. Your Cymouse could be used to switch weapons or make one of your favorite "moves". In hands free control of your desktop you could move the cursor with the pitch and yaw, and have movement on the "Z axis" (move toward or away from the screen) be your click and double click. This makes it easy to send and receive email, browse the web, play solitaire, or almost any other computer function hands free.