I'd like to see more comments from the target audience, at the moment the comment section is full of abled people who speculate on the needs and experiences of the target audience.
I have found setups that work for me, and i'm comfortable now -- but I wish I had something like this years ago when I had to make accommodations.
My main worry in seeing this -- like all accessibility equipment -- is that it will be outrageously priced or locked up behind some kind of insurance coding so as to capture that segment of the market; most medical groups aim for VFW-equivalent equipment coverage on insurance, and I have no-where near that.
That said : I would love this as a device for TIG-torch actuation. That's one nut that I haven't yet been able to crack, and I was seriously considering the idea of tinkering up some kind of mouth-actuated wireless solution for welding. I can imagine this as a PC bridge to an interface that could help realize a fine control for the torch.
> I would love this as a device for TIG-torch actuation
My mom works with people with disabilities and all of her clients that I've met are like this--determined and capable.
I imagine there's a lot of people who need help in getting these tech setups going with a bunch of trial and error and then after that they can independently operate. Are there any volunteer groups that help with that?
I'm pretty out-of-touch with the accessibility/advocacy world, but should such a group exist I think that it'd be a blast to work for/with them. Giving someone back an ability is something that may be minor for some, but life-changing for others. I would imagine that it would be immensely gratifying work.
I know of groups like AbleGamers that have helped with gaming accessibility as well as providing equipment for people on a limited-basis. I think they were also one of the forces behind the XBox Adaptive Controller, which was a boon for some.
Our trains of though crossed paths here. I was thinking about how useful it might be to an able bodied person, if it would be fun or even beneficial to use. Like having a third hand in gaming would be nice sometimes. Then it immediately called to mind how outrageously expensive aid devices like this tend to be. For example an actually good hearing aid is like $2,000 for some reason. And a really nice robotic wheelchair can be like $40,000. So with disappointment I assume this thing, even if it makes it to scaled up commercial production is going to be out of my price range as someone who doesn't actually need it but wouldn't mind helping to fund the project.
Is the apparent price gouging because insurance might pay for it? Or because some people don't have a choice but to buy it?
While a mouthpad seems slighly superior to an eye tracker, the real benefit lies in having more alternatives in my opinion. So you can use your tongue when your eyes are tired and your eyes when your tongue is tired.
As you mention, the MouthPad^ would serve as an awesome tool in tandem with gaze-based cursor control. I’d like to point out that there are also other interface combinations that could work well, too. For example, we have tested using our device in tandem with voice-assistant systems and found preliminary success as our device does not prevent speech. In the end, everyone has different needs and preferences, and each interface has their quirks, so we aim to create a better option by leveraging the power of the tongue (comprised of 8 different muscles, and intrinsically dexterous).
A device like this makes a lot of sense for wearable computing. I wouldn't assume the target market are people with disabilities.
I would certainly be interested in the device purely from a keeping-both-hands-on-the-keyboard perspective.
Although our promotional video features people with quadriplegia, the MouthPad^ is designed for everyone and anyone interested in using their tongue and mouth to control their personal devices. We believe strongly in universal design, and how designing for extremes can create an improved experience for all users, and this has led us to work closely with the disability community. A classic example of the benefits of universal design can be seen in curb cuts, which were initially built into our sidewalks to help accommodate the needs of people living with mobility issues, but ended up providing value to many other groups, such as mothers with strollers, workers with carts, travelers with luggage, runners, skateboarders, etc.