SmartNav 4 Review - Put Your Head into the Game

Monday, 15 June 2009 19:59 Written by Corey Krull

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How It Works

The SmartNav 4 uses an infrared (IR) camera that tracks head movements. It works by reflecting IR light back to the device, which then sends instructions to your PC to move the mouse cursor. The IR light is reflected back by little dots or LEDs that can be placed anywhere. The ideal places are the forehead, hand, finger, glasses, mic boom or anywhere else that would best suit the user. There is also an optional hat or reflective ring to control the cursor.

One thing that you need to remember is that it does take some patience to get used to the nuances of controlling the precise movements of a mouse pointer by moving your head small amounts. The device comes with software that allows you to change many settings. Two being the vertical and horizontal speeds, this lets you set how much head movement you require to move the mouse cursor. These settings allow you to change between incredibly small finite movements for those with little strength to incredibly large areas for those with difficulty controlling muscle movements.

Mouse Functions

The device has three ways to perform mouse functions. The first way is through Dwell Clicking; a dwell click works by holding the mouse cursor still over an icon or button for a short period. Using the dwell click toolbar, the user is able to perform mouse functions.

The second way to perform mouse functions is with switches. A single switch can be plugged into the back of the SmartNav, or you can use the Y-Breakout Cable, which is included with the package to connect two switches into the device. Natural Point sells a few types of switches, hand, foot and sip and puff.

The last way is through special voice recognition software called voice clicking. All mouse functions are done by voice.

With these three options, the user is bound to find the right solution to make gaming easier.

Mounting

The SmartNav can be mounted on top of any monitor or laptop; it can also be threaded onto a mini tripod. The device can be placed anywhere as long as it is placed next to the monitor and facing the user

How Well Does It Work In Terms Of Gaming?

The SmartNav 4 works very well for accessible gaming. In one way or another, it will improve many aspects of your gaming skills. In my experience, the device can and most likely will improve your reaction time and aiming. The more that you use the device, like in most things, the more you will improve.

You can operate the device with any game that requires a mouse to play. The common genres in this area are FPS, RTS, RPG, MMO, SIM, CASUAL and some SPORTS. As you can see, the SmartNav 4 opens up a large variety of games to you.

If you enjoy, let's say, FPS titles. Then imagine being able to move your head slightly in the direction of an enemy, have them in your sights and in that instance you click the mouse and, BOOM!! You get that illustrious frag.

The SmartNav 4 has proven to be a reliable mouse alternative for almost anyone with a physical disability. Since it requires minimal movement (less than an inch); is very responsive and has precise cursor accuracy; the SmartNav makes a good option for accessible gaming.

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Comments (7) Add Comment

John Bannick

June 17, 2009

Votes: +0

...

Corey,

Excellent review.
You taught me a new control: a Dwell Click Toolbar.

Thanks,

John Bannick
CTO
7-128 Software

Barrie Ellis

June 17, 2009

Votes: +0

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Natural Point make some really nice gear - and have been long term supporters of game accessibility. Good on them.

Lee Doerksen

June 22, 2009

Votes: +0

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I love these head mice, and was sorely tempted to use one full time when my wrists got bad. Lots of people I know love them, and other units like them. We've helped people use them many times in the past, esp. in school settings.

It was really important to us that the Basic Computer Skills: Mouse game we produced worked really well with head mice. Got an excellent endorsement from Randy Marsden of Madentec (make the Tracker) that felt great to the whole team. They recommend our games to train new Head Mice users (yes, I would say even adult user's would benefit, lots.)

Little insight, some kids should use these in the classroom, along with on screen keyboard, etc., instead of voice dictation. For practice of these skills, we highly recommend playing video game at home. Hand's down the best way to practice.

Great review!

Gavin

June 22, 2009

Votes: +0

...

Excellent, thanks for the review!

I notice that a few people may not have seen dwell-clicking tools before. There are a few free ones available that I use all the time with head/eye trackers, and people who use their wheelchair controls to access computers.

ClickAid is a small, simple tool that has left/middle/right click, double click, click and drag, shift/alt/ctrl click, etc.

http://www.polital.com/ca/

Point-N-Click is the bigger, more complicated and customizable version of ClickAid.

http://www.polital.com/pnc/

And if you want to try out a free program that turns a webcam into a (not entirely independent) head/body part tracker, check out CameraMouse, from Boston College. I don't think it's as robust as a SmartNav, but it's worth checking out for free.

http://www.cameramouse.org/