Egan Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems Department Chairman James Gips is pictured here with the Camera Mouse technology. Using a webcam to track small movements of the head, people with disabilities can control computers. The software has been downloaded 100,000 times around the globe.
Camera Mouse technology reaches 100,000th download milestone
Technology developed by Carroll School of Management faculty to help people with disabilities use computers has reached a milestone
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Camera Mouse, the software program developed by Carroll School of Management faculty to help people with disabilities use computers, has reached a milestone some might have thought impossible just a few years ago.Last month, the free program was downloaded for the 100,000th time.
Camera Mouse lets people who cannot use their hands replace their computer mouse with movements of their head. Since it was developed approximately 10 years ago, people with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, ALS, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, various neurological disorders have used the program and to run all types of computer software. Once it was made available for free at www.cameramouse.org in June 2007, the program began reaching a global community in search of an adaptive technology for the personal computer.
For Egan Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems Department Chairman James Gips, to see people in need across the globe embrace the software he co-created with former BC colleague Margrit Betke, now at Boston University, has been an ample reward.
"We are thrilled that there have been 100,000 downloads of Camera Mouse since we posted a free version on the web," Gips said. "Our goal is to help as many people as we can with this software. We have heard from people all around the world who have found the software beneficial for themselves or for family members or friends or students or clients with disabilities."
Words in support of Camera Mouse have come from groups such as Paralyzed Veterans of America, and from people half way around the world, like 32-year-old Jacqui Rogers, of Melbourne, Australia, who was born with severe Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.
"After continuing to search for about a year, I discovered a FREE program called Camera Mouse," Rogers wrote on her website. "This program with the onscreen keyboard program called Grid Keys has changed my life!...I'm so thankful to the guys who developed Camera Mouse. It's awesome!"
"Because of Jim's work with Camera Mouse, there are 100,000 people around the world able to use technology to communicate with loved ones and caregivers, to study for school or to pursue their careers because they can now access the power of their personal computers," said Carroll School Dean Andy Boynton. "The success of Camera Mouse is a testament to Jim's ground-breaking research and his firm belief that technology can improve people's lives. His work serves as a powerful reminder that as a Jesuit, Catholic school of management we prepare our students not just for successful careers, but to serve others in times of need."
The download milestone may have seemed all the more unlikely after a start-up company licensed to sell Camera Mouse went out of business about five years ago. Boston College reclaimed the license and Gips and Betke decided to upgrade the original software and turn to free distribution online.
Even today, the website goes to great lengths to tell visitors that a technology many users describe as life-changing is just a free click away.
"Part of our challenge is to convince people that this software is free, that there are no hidden costs or advertisements, and that our motive is simply to be of help," said Gips.
Gips credits two alumni - Matt McGowan '97 and Don Green '93, graduates of the Computer Science Department - with critical design changes and many hours of volunteer labor spent fine-tuning and trouble-shooting the program.
Green marvels that the program has surpassed the 100,000 download mark.
"It's a little frightening," said Green, now vice president of business development for Biocius Life Sciences in Woburn. "We always worried how to support it if it got real big. The trick is keeping it simple enough, while providing the right functionality."