Foot activated user interface

We are still in the early ages of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) though there are recent achievements. Meanwhile, researchers at HP are working on alternative communication devices and come up with a foot-activated user interface that can bring mousing abilities to those without hands / arms (or a suitable amount of dexterity). Although this solution is not the ultimate human computer interface, it is a progress in the right direction and useful to many before we have neural based mature BCIs.

Within the device, a magnetic sensor is affixed to one foot, while a transmitter emitting "pulsed magnetic signals" is clipped onto the other, and as the pulsating foot wiggles about, the relative distance and position is calculated and converted into cursor movements on screen. The designers have suggested that "twists" could be understood as "right / left clicks," while "sliding atop the ground" could be translated as "dragging and dropping."

[ patent ] [ more ]