A Nouse is a new computer technology that has been invented and is being developed by Dr. Dmitry Gorodnichy from the Institute of Information Technology in Ottawa. The project is called Nouse Perceptual Vision User Interfaces, and is under the Video Recognitions Project. This is also known as Perceptual Vision Technology.

This technology will enable computer users to use their eyes and nose as pointers in place of a conventional mouse pointer and will serve as a hands-free alternative for computer users.

How It Works

The face, most especially the nose, is a very unique feature of the human body. This means that the sensors would have no problem in detecting all of the movements and responding to the position of the nose, facial expressions and even eye blinks.

The Nouse technology includes numerous features that help in the proper operation of the system. One of these is the face-detection feature that allows the computer to detect the user’s face that would be used as the pointer. Another one is its head movement detection capabilities. This will enable the computer to accurately detect movements and actions of the user’s head. Next on the features list is the main component of the system – a precision tracking device for the nose. This feature takes full advantage of the uniqueness of the human nose to sense movements.

One other feature of the Nouse technology is Blink Detection. Because the nose cannot be a solid source of deliberate and obvious movements, the inventor of the Nouse had to devise a way to create clicks with the face. He resorted to using the eye’s blinking motion. The system can be calibrated to interpret 2 or 3 consecutive blinks as a click or as a selection.

Facial gestures will be detected and recognized using the Facial Gestures Recognition feature of the Nouse system. The facial gestures that the user makes could be recognized and used by the computer. Each facial gesture will have a corresponding command or task.

The system incorporates a User Recognition feature, where the face of the user could be recognized each time the computer is being used. This will enable the computer to automatically load and use different and personalized settings for every user.

The Nouse program has a Vision-based “virtual” Onscreen Keyboard feature which makes hands-free typing and computing possible. This may be included in the Hands-free Operating System and computer control.

Applications

The Nouse has been made for the purposes of producing a system that could enable computer users to use their faces as pointing tools instead of using their hands together with a conventional hand-controlled mouse.

The project and technology should benefit those who have physical disabilities and handicaps, most especially those who have difficulty or are incapable of using their hands. Through the Nouse, the disabled will be able to use the computer to be able to communicate with other people. This will render physical limitations such as speech disorders inconsequential.