IntegraMouse: Mouth-controlled device facilitates digital accessibility

Mr. Hofer, how did you come up with the idea for the IntegraMouse?
David Hofer: We originally developed the IntegraMouse for a 21-year-old young man who has been a paraplegic since an accident fractured his top vertebrae. About 15 years ago, he came to us for advice since LIFEtool is primarily a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities through counseling and research. Our assistive centers guide people with disabilities in finding alternative and augmentative communication and assistive technologies.

This young man wanted to work on his computer again and prompted the idea to control a mouse with his mouth because he was able to hold a straw in his mouth despite his paraplegia. Back then, we were actually unaware of the large number of people who urgently needed this type of solution and were anxiously waiting for someone to create it. From there, it took several years to get from the idea to our first generation of the IntegraMouse.

Who is the target audience for IntegraMouse?
Hofer: The mouse was developed to assist all people with severe damage to the spinal cord, i.e. those affected by high-level paralysis. It is also suitable for people with shorter limbs and body appendages, amputated arms and those suffering from progressive neuromuscular disorders.

What applications does the IntegraMouse facilitate?
Hofer: You can use the device to operate any computer including all its applications just like you would with a standard PC mouse. This includes Outlook, Excel, Photoshop – and everything that can be controlled via the computer. One of our clients is a DJ, who control his programs using the mouse for example. Our customers also include architects and professors. When we developed the IntegraMouse, our primary focus was to facilitate work on the computer and running the applicable programs.

We focused on another feature for our second generation: gaming. Many PC games require a gamepad or joystick. So we swiftly embedded a joystick mode. Users can now alternate between the different modes, using the mouse for either work or gaming purposes. We have also added an option for online games that can only be played using the keyboard. So you get three devices and operating modes in one if you will. Another new feature: the IntegraMouse can also operate smartphones and tablets and can be used via wireless connectivity.

How is the IntegraMouse different from other mouth-controlled devices on the market?
Hofer: Besides the many functions I mentioned earlier, the IntegraMouse is also the only mouth-controlled mouse that has been certified as a medical device.

Good design is likewise very important to us. There are multiple available solutions where esthetics don’t play a role. That's why we enlisted the help of a designer. He considered comparable objects that people hold and operate using their mouths, similar to the IntegraMouse. These reminded him of musical or woodwind instruments like the saxophone. That’s why the shape and look of the mouse were somewhat modeled after the saxophone.

What are some other applications you have planned for the future?
Hofer: We seek out continuous feedback from our users. Many of them – including users active in text production and gamers – indicated a need for voice control. We are currently considering how we can implement this feature in our next IntegraMouse generation.

We also want to address the cost factor. Right now, the IntegraMouse costs 1,800 euros. Some countries don’t have the same access to a great health care system as we do here in Germany. Many users there have a hard time paying this much for the device. That’s why we are debating whether we should develop the next generation as a kind of basic module that only comes with the main mouse function. We would then offer all other features as additional modules.

How important is participation at the REHACARE trade fair for you as a company?
Hofer: Our first time as a REHACARE exhibitor was in 2003 – back then, we introduced the first generation of the IntegraMouse. For us, this marked the beginning of many successful business partnerships and friendships. REHACARE also enabled us to develop relationships with companies in the U.S. and Canada. I am proud to say that REHACARE has been a true launch pad for our company.