Head Control Mouse Testimonials

Head Control Mouse Testimonials

Not sure if it will work for you? See what others with similar limitations think!

Jump to:

Quadriplegia

Muscular Dystrophy

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries)

Magazine Reviews

Other Testimonials

Back to Head Control Mouse Main Page

Quadriplegia

"Thank you for all you assistance! I just received word from the art teacher that the SmartNav is providing access to PhotoShop for a very special student in his yearbook class. Both the student and the instructor are finally able to accomplish goals that seemed impossible. I am certain that as the student becomes a more proficient user that he will be able to contribute as much as the other students in the yearbook class. Thanks again for all your assistance. It is dearly appreciated!" - Teresa, Arizona

(January, 2006)

"This is a very long overdue testimonial for your incredible SmartNAV system for the disabled to manipulate the computer mouse and controls. I have very severe advancing muscular dystrophy and had been using a wireless trackball previously until my weakening hands made it no longer feasible. I was really in a panic and researching on the Internet various companies using head pointer types of systems. I could not believe the range of prices up to $4000! Then I found your web site, and could hardly believe my eyes. You were simply using "off the shelf" existing IR cameras and some Scotch reflective tape to control the mouse, and then some simple buttons or switches (customer's preference) to activate the left and right mouse clicks. Add some very clever software and you have absolute genius following the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) technique--and all for an absolute fraction of the price of comparable systems.

I couldn't wait to order one on the spot, and anxiously awaited the arrival of the package. I could hardly believe that it truly was installed and tested as easily as you had said it would be; but there it was working perfectly and giving me complete control over my computer again. After a few days, my caregivers and office assistant agreed that I was even faster on the computer than I had been with the trackball!

As I am on the computer for many hours a day and even using it for my multiple line phone system, the SmartNAV System has become an indispensable part of my life. Please pass on my sincerest thanks to Jim Richardson for inventing it in order to help his family member who had been injured in an accident. I have recommended it to countless friends.

The SmartNAV System at the incredible price that you have should be a standard piece of equipment for any computer system used by a quadriplegic. I am currently having an older laptop computer configured for my needs and we expect to be able to install the SmartNAV on it as well, using the optional monitor camera support, so that I could have my phone communications and e-mail capability while traveling. That will be a HUGE help to me.

Again Many Thanks,

Fred - Fred Hess

Stockton, CA

(September, 2004)

"I received my new Natural Point device yesterday. I must say, I was somewhat skeptical as to whether the upgrade would be worth the price. As it turns out, the upgrade is several times better than the original.

I can now do virtually everything possible on the computer without the need for outside help. When necessary for writing e-mails or letters etc. I use a voice-recognition program. For everything else, I use Natural Point.

Thanks for an excellent product!" - Dick Sameck

Plymouth, MI

" We recently received the Smart-Nav head control mouse for our 6 year old son, Devon. He is paralyzed from the neck down on a ventilator. We have had it about 3 weeks or so and he absolutely loves using it. It his first time experiencing independence since he was 3 1/2 when he became paralyzed. He has so many educational software programs and games that he can never use unless someone sits and does it with him. We still have to help him, but he does most of the work himself. It gets him away from the TV as well. His school teacher was the one that got the school district to pay for the Smart Nav.

Medically, he has to move his head independently and that will increase his neck muscles and eventually allow him to hold his head up on his own, which will allow him to utilize switches for electric mobility devices. As his neck muscles develop, he gains more feeling downward from his neck and gains more muscle control in his shoulders and so on, and so on, and so on. It's the only Physical Therapy he enjoys because he doesn't realize it's therapeutic. The Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, CA. didn't know this device existed. They are looking into getting more for other children and adults within their system.

Thank you." James and Doreen Caouette

Parents and Founders of Devon and Devon's Helping Hands

www.devonshelpinghands.org

"Two days ago i got Your IR-Track-Mouse (sic) and I am very pleased to found this product. It is wonderful and gives me new applications for 'high disabled' patients. The low price is very good for those patient with less money or without any insurance paying for them." -Pius, Switzerland

Muscular Dystrophy

"Independence is struggle in a person's lifestyle with Muscular Dystrophy. There are many activities I can not perform anymore, but the personal computer had potential. Operating a computer without the use of my hands became the problem. Someone had to control the mouse and type on the keyboard for me. Then I discovered the Natural Point system, which allowed me to operate my computer with complete independence. This tool works perfect with the modest head control I have left and I've been using it strong, since November 2001. It had been nearly seventeen years since I had played a video game or operated a stereo on my own.

With SmartNAV I can (without the help of others) surf the web, send and receive email, play games, download music, create audio mixes, print pictures, and was even the DJ for a wedding reception. This system has been dependable and the pointer is amazingly accurate for detailed mouse control. The cost is affordable, the system is really easy to set up and I can't begin to describe how much I enjoy the independence." - Jon Whitmer

Billings, MT

(November, 2004)

"My 4 year old son Billy has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1, a disease that has minimized his movement and muscle control, leaving him with just the slightest movement in his hands. At just under 2 years old we got our first try on the SmartNAV AT and to this day I can't imagine our life without it. We had tried many other, very expensive, computer input devices which could not work for him. I was skeptical when we were told about the SmartNAV and quite honestly didn't believe it was going to work either. That fear disappeared the very first time we set him up with it. He can play games just as any other child, maybe even better. This has opened his world up so much and has been instrumental in his learning and the pride in his accomplishment is nothing short of amazing. I can't thank Natural Point enough for making such a wonderful product at such an incredibly great price.

Also on his website, there is a short video clip of Billy using his SmartNAV, one of the first times he ever used it. You are more than welcome to check it out. www.our-sma-angels.com/billy and it's on the 'My Videos' page. Thank you again for taking the time to email me, it's great to know that there are companies who care about what their customers think." - Lisa Spiegel

Knoxville, TN

(April, 2005)

(Here is a video of Billy using the SmartNAV for one of the first times - 2.32 MB)

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

"My friend Sandy, was able to speak his first words in a long time, via laptop computer, with the help of the Smart-NAV this afternoon...He simply said, "About Time" He was getting frustrated with other devices but he is smiling now." - Roger Marcoux

"Thank you for such a great product. My wife has ALS and has lost the ability to type with her hands. We bought a product called Miracle Mouse that was too big and bulky on her head and had problems with her laptop. We returned it and found the SmartNav AT package.

This has been the single most important purchase since her power wheelchair, it is great. It has given her the freedom to communicate again and now that she is losing her voice, it means that much more to her. It opens up so many more possibilities for her.

I thank you folks at NaturalPoint for giving us a product that works great and doesn't cost us an unreal amount of money to buy. - Lee Graber, OR

"To the staff at Natural Point. I received the replacement of the Smart Nav. Thank you very much for your promptness on this matter. I have ALS and this is my source of communication. When I received the original Smart Nav my wife had a question about the installation. When she contacted you, the Representative was so nice and courteous. He was very patient and talked her through the process and got her questions answered. When we were experiencing problems this time the rep (who was a different person) was equally nice, courteous and concerned. For someone who has to depend on others for everything, it is very comforting to know that people like you still exist in the world.

Thanks Again. - David Zills, AL

"I want to thank you for taking the time to demonstrate the Smart-NAV to our ALS support group. As I told the group, although I already own a much more expensive competitive product, I was frustrated dealing with all the cords when using it with my new laptop and by the fact that I could only install the associated dwell cursor program on one computer at a time. As a result of my frustration, I recently borrowed a Smart-NAV from our local augmentative communication center to evaluate. I didn't expect it to work as well as my more expensive system but was hoping it would work "good enough" to be usable. Boy was I shocked to find that the Smart-NAV worked as well, and in most respects better, than the system I was using! The following are my perceptions of the main advantages of the Smart-NAV over the competitive head controlled mouse systems I have tried:

Costs $200, not $1000 to $2000 like competitive systems.

No power cord to contend with. Simple one cord connection.

The Smart-NAV was extremely easy to setup, learn and get accustomed to using (less than 30 minutes).

No software license to hassle with during installation. No phone call to get an unlock code.

I could install the software on both my desktop and laptop making it easy to switch the Smart-NAV between machines.

Sensitivity can easily be adjusted via the software independent of the regular mouse.

The Smart-NAV can easily be turned on and off via software.

Your website has a fantastic user forum in which company employees regularly participate.

The product works great!

Please give my thanks to everyone at your company for creating such a superior product at such an affordable price. You have really done a great service to the disabled community. Keep up the good work." -Steve White

"Who is the one who created this program? I would like to shake his hand. You helped my brother, who has ALS and cannot speak and who can barely move, talk again-through his computer. Talk. Interact. Make decisions. Convey his feelings and his love. Be human again.

From the core of my being, I am grateful and I send you that handshake along with a tearful hug. I love what you did. If you ever wanted 'to change the world' for the good, you did it. I know God is the creator of all good things, and so He worked through you. Thanks for being that lightning rod for us. And for all others in the same predicament. If you give God the glory, you will know about the truth everyone is seeking. It's all Him.

Thanks. Thanks. Thanks" -Rachel Toth, CA

"I want to congratulate you on a great product. The price is right! I got the Smart-NAV for my daughter, she is in a rest home, she has been there for over twelve years. Her problem is ALS, when she first got the disease we bought her a computer which she enjoyed very much.

Now she can't move or talk, You can see why the Smart-NAV was such a good buy . We placed the button on her forehead but she couldn't move her head enough, so we placed the button on her lower lip, between the movement of her head and lip she gets enough movement. Now she can make Hallmark cards for Xmas! Merry Christmas. " -W.D. Langdon

RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries)

I started getting carpal tunnel syndrome about 1995, first a stiffness then a soreness in the wrists, particularly the right wrist, my mouse hand. After about five years, it was pretty painful, so I started doing different things to cope. I tried split keyboards, different sitting positions, touchpads, transcription services, and used early voice recognition software called “discrete speech,” which was really pretty lame because you had to… say… each… word… separately.

Some of these tips and tricks I still used today: I have a standup computer terminal (I stand when I am at the computer, with my hands straight down, because it is more comfortable for me); I still wear comfortable wrist braces, for the few times that my hands touch the keyboard; I wear homemade nighttime splints to keep my wrists relatively straight when I sleep (they are made from two balsa wood boards and a couple of old socks--very low tech); I stretch and workout often--swimming is excellent, for fluidity; occasional B-6 helps.

There are three mice on my computer: a touchpad (turned sideways), a one-button mouse used for clicking-only (since I stand, it is directly in front of me, so that I just lean-in to click it--I call it a “belly clicker”), and the most important one--a touchless camera mouse, the SmartNAV, from http://www.naturalpoint.com/smartnav/. With these, I navigate virtually hands-free. One version of SmartNAV has a “voice clicking” feature, very helpful.

Microsoft Office Word 2003 has a terrific built-in voice recognition tool called “Speech.” It allows both dictation and menu control inside and outside of Word applications. I occasionally use IBM ViaVoice, and while it is still on my computer and more accurate at speech recognition, Microsoft “Speech” is perfectly good for daily use. Most people don’t even know that it’s on their computer.

I also use the Microsoft Windows On-Screen Keyboard for “belly clicking” certain keyboard combinations and entering key-specific data. There’s also a simple software tool called a “dwell clicker,” which is available with SmartNAV or several places online.

All the software tools and tricks that I use are readily available, and inexpensive. Of course, using them all in combination takes some practice and getting used to.

One thing people always ask me is, “Does all of this make you a faster typist?” and I say, “No, but I can work as fast as you, pain-free. And that’s all that really matters to me.” - Shawn Stewart

Arlington, Texas

(January, 2007)

I've been working in software for nearly ten years and have had all kinds of tendinitis-like problems with the overused wrists. It's not like I didn't develop all the ergonomic best-practices: I can mouse with either hand, I often switch between thumb mice and normal mice, and I've even made valiant efforts at mousing with my feet. But no alternative mousing tool has been as great as the SmartNAV mouse. I've used it for at least a year and a half, maybe more, and it works as great now as ever. I know it's saved me another trip to the orthopedist, and maybe saved me from having to switch fields all together. Please, don't ever take it off the market!!

Thanks a lot! - Stuart, Oregon

I am a programmer/IT manager and use my keyboard/mouse heavily all the time, often putting in 12-15 hour work days. I used to go home every day with wrist/arm/shoulder problems in my mouse arm. Since buying this device, I feel great and can work full days with no problem.

It only took a day to get used to the Smart-NAV and I will never stop using it. I have already had two other guys in the office with similar wrist problems express interest.

I have never found a better device to aid my career and comfort than the Smart-NAV. I can't live without it. It is awesome!" - Maury Hill

I purchased Natural Point hands free mouse about 7 or 8 months ago because I had developed a serious case of RSI. This product is great. It only took me a day or two to master, and now my wrists are nearly back to normal.

If I had known back then how effective it would be helping me to recover while keeping my job (Im a dba/software developer), I probably would have paid a lot more for it. - Brent Ridenour

I just wanted to tell you guys what a wonderful product you have. I am a writer in public relations. Using a computer is a necessity, but a pain. I have had carpal tunnel for about ten years.

SmartNAV3 is fantastic. This product allows me to work pain-free for the first time in many years. It's simple, reliable and affordable. I use smartNAV3, in combination with several other products, for virtually hands-free computing. It's the first program I turn on everyday.

Thank you for helping me be a better writer. - Shawn Stewart

Plano, Texas

(April, 2005)

I can't tell you how impressed I am with how much the Smart-NAV has helped me.

I recently developed a very painful case of Tendonitis in both forearms, wrists and hands. This was caused by overuse and bad ergonomic setups at work and home. I do website development full-time during the day and also at home on evenings and weekends. I was forced to drastically cut back my computer time at home and have become less & less able to get through the day at work as this has gotten progressively worse.

Then I saw an article in PC World describing the Smart-NAV. I got one for home, installed it, and after several hours of use was totally comfortable with it. This thing is amazing. For the first time in months I can use my computer without pain. The relief I feel is indescribable. Thanks for making such a great product!!

It has been so effective that I just ordered another one for work! It is my hope that by using the Smart-NAVs in combination with ergonomic changes and more moderate computer use I will be able to continue working while recovering from this nasty affliction

Once again, thanks for creating something which has made such a qualitative difference in my life. -Richard, New York

I really like the software. It's simple, but it's versatile. You can adjust the motion and responsiveness of it quite a lot, and you can save settings. You can have it work automatically, or you can activate/deactivate it with hotkeys.

Within an hour, I was much much better. I could hit my targets almost all of the time. I continue to improve every day. -Dan, Canada

Magazine Reviews

Aging U.S. Challenges Tech R&D (excerpt)

Investor's Business Daily (05/12/05) P. A4; Vallone, Julie

"...Tech companies are beginning to recognize the potential rewards they stand to reap from the aging baby boomer population, a segment whose needs were largely ignored until recently. "Because there is now a significant number of older adults using the technology, and in a position to buy products, manufacturers and designers are starting to pay attention to them," says Florida State University psychology professor Dr. Neil Charness. Bentley College's Design and Usability Testing Center founder William Gribbons says few industries realize the benefits they can gain from designing products for seniors, with the exception of financial services and health care. Financial service firms are attempting to enhance access for older customers by increasing the user-friendliness of customer service systems, while the health care industry plans to drive costs down by augmenting health care management via technology; Gribbons lists doctors checking up on patients daily through email as one example. Other companies developing and marketing more senior-friendly technology include IBM, which has devised a computer mouse adaptor that eliminates excessive cursor movements for users with hand tremors.

For people who are incapable of even moving a mouse, NaturalPoint has developed SmartNav, a system that employs an infrared camera that tracks a reflective dot worn on the user's forehead, thus allowing users to control a cursor and navigate a computer non-manually. And Elia Life Technology is working on a new raised alphabet that vision-impaired users can read faster than Braille or the raised Roman alphabet, along with a tactile keyboard, a printer that generates raised text, and a easily refreshed tactile display that uses protracting and retracting pixels. ..."

Associated Content, Inc. (11/24/2006)

Product Review: NaturalPoint - the SmartNAV Hands Free Computer Mouse

D-Gamer.com (05/2006)

SMART-NAV 3 EG

Nettips.dk (Danish) (03/29/2006)

Nettips.dk (English) (03/29/2006)

Control your mouse by your head, By GregDK

But You Don't Look Sick? (03/2006)

Product Review: NaturalPoint- The SmartNAV hands free computer mouse

The College of New Jersey TECH-NJ (03/2006)

SmartNAV by NaturalPoint

Other Testimonials

- Fred Hess

Stockton, CA

(September, 2004)

Thanks for an excellent product!"

- Dick Sameck

Plymouth, MI

"I can't tell you how impressed I am with how much the Smart-NAV has helped me.

Once again, thanks for creating something which has made such a qualitative difference in my life."

-Richard, New York

"I really like the software. It's simple, but it's versatile. You can adjust the motion and responsiveness of it quite a lot, and you can save settings. You can have it work automatically, or you can activate/deactivate it with hotkeys.

Within an hour, I was much much better. I could hit my targets almost all of the time. I continue to improve every day."

-Dan, Canada

"May I first say that we are so excited and encouraged at our house after the arrival of my daughter's SmartNAV AT yesterday! She has consistent voluntary control over her eyes and head only. It took just a few minutes to install the software and customize the settings for her. Right away she was able to (roughly) control an off-the-shelf preschool mouse-skills training game--the first success she has EVER had at the computer! She was so proud, and so were we! Our eventual goal is for her to master the SmartNAV so she can use it to run voice output software, as she is not able to control muscles needed for speech. But for now it is an absolute delight to watch her be able to do something FUN, INDEPENDENTLY!!!

By good fortune, her first efforts at trying the TrackIR were during her physical therapy session. The therapists and I sat stunned at what she was able to accomplish in her first tries.

Thanks for the hope you have given us...and at a price we can afford! "

-Rose-Marie Gallagher

"I received the second mouse on Monday, works great. Thank you for getting it out right away. So far this mouse responds as well as my $1600.00 Origin Instruments head mouse.

Smaller unit is a plus, the only downside I see so far is that it needs software where as Origin's reads as a standard mouse. But that is not worth an extra $1400.00. Great product at a fair price. "

-Mike Sweda

"I just want to share a little bit with you what a huge difference the Smart-NAV has made to my life. I am a person with a significant disability, I'm in a wheelchair and completely unable to speak.

The Smart-NAV and The Grid from Sensory Software International has completely changed my life. In fact I've just placed an order with Sensory Software International for another Smart-NAV for myself. I am often asked to give speeches and the Smart-NAV never fails to impress! In fact I ordered and delivered a Smart-NAV on behalf of a little girl with a disability just last week. Because her mother saw mine at a speech I gave.

Lastly I just want to say thank you for your awesome product."

- Martin Pistorius, South Africa