Details -
How It Works
The TetraMouse has a cable that plugs into one of your computer's USB ports.
Optionally, you can use the supplied PS/2 adapter to connect to your computer's
PS/2 mouse port. The computer "sees" the TetraMouse as a normal mouse,
so no special software is required for operation and installation is the same
as for any standard mouse -- just plug it in!
The TetraMouse is normally mounted so that the joystick knobs are positioned
directly in front of the user's lips. Moving the joysticks with the lips (or
tongue in the case of user's without head movement) controls the TetraMouse
functions.
The two joysticks are positioned side-by-side on the TetraMouse, making it easy
to move from one to the other. One joystick (the "position" joystick) controls
the mouse position and the other (the "clicker" joystick) is used for the
mouse clicking functions and pointer motion speed selection. The joysticks are
very easy to move, requiring only very minimal force. They operate easily using
just the outside of one's lips (you can also use your chin, hand or foot).
For the most sturdy mounting, TetraLite Products offers the Articulated Arm.
Other available mounting options include the boom microphone stand, positioned
(usually) beside the operator, or the gooseneck mount which may be mounted directly
to a desktop or, to keep from marring the desktop, to a piece of wood which
can be clamped to the desktop.The boom stand and gooseneck mounts are being
phased out. The TetraMouse is also easily adapted to other mounting systems
available from third party suppliers.
Operation
The "position" joystick gives you mouse pointer movement in eight directions:
left, right, up, down and the four diagonals. The direct and positive action
of this mouse makes it extremely easy to use. Internally, cost is kept down
by keeping it simple. Joysticks that use potentiometers (as used in some no-hands
mice) are capable of increasing the mouse pointer speed as you push the stick
farther in the desired direction. That's all very well and good, but it is rather
unnecessary and in reality makes the mouse harder to control when you are using
your lips to push the joystick. With the TetraMouse, the mouse speed is always
constant and selectable "on-the-fly" from four adjustable speed settings
and the positioning is direct and positive -- you know precisely where it is
going to go.
To select one of the four speeds push up on the "clicker" joystick. When you
click the joystick up, the speed selection is advanced to the next setting.
From the fourth setting the selection loops back to the first. The adjustments
for the four speeds are set with a small screwdriver (supplied witht the TetraMouse).
There are four small holes on the back of the TetraMouse box that allow access
to the four adjustments. These four speed adjustments should be set with the
help of a helper or care-giver who simply turns the adjusting screws while the
user tests the speed of the pointer. Note that the speed settings are independent
of all other clicking operations. This means that you can change speeds even
while performing drag and drop operations. The currently selected speed is indicated
by the color-coded light that emits from the "lightbar" along the
top of the TetraMouse box.
Move the clicker joystick left or right to do left and right mouse clicks. A
double-click is easy to do -- just push twice. Drag and drop functionality is
achieved, once again, very simply; built into Windows XP (if you are not using
XP, please read on) is an option that allows a user to simulate a "left-click
and hold" by holding the mouse button down (or in this case, holding the joystick
to the left) for a longer period of time (adjustable in Control Panel, Mouse
Properties) than a normal click. When activated in this manner, you are then
able to drag whatever you clicked on to a new position (drag and drop), or,
if you clicked on a line of text, you can highlight text from that point by
dragging over the text in the desired direction. A normal mouse click "drops"
the item (or selects the text) and returns you to the normal mouse mode. Windows
98 does not have this capability built in, but there are freeware programs (included
on the TetraMouse CD) that will enable you to perform drag and drop functions.
The TetraMouse LeftLock utility is recommended to give the user drag and drop
functionality. See the "Software" or "Download" pages for more information on
these programs. Also on those pages is information about a great freeware on-screen
mouse-operated virtual keyboard (Click-N-Type -- also included on the CD) that
allows you to type using any kind of mouse including the TetraMouse.
Pushing the clicker joystick down is normally equivalent to clicking a scroll
wheel on a wheel mouse or the middle button on a three-button mouse. When, for
example, you are viewing a web page that has scroll bars, either on one side
vertically or along the bottom horizontally, you can push the clicker stick
down to activate a scroll cursor. With this cursor enabled, moving the position
joystick will scroll the window up or down and/or left and right. Any mouse
click turns the scroll function off and restores the normal mouse cursor. If
using the TetraMouse LeftLock utility, the user can switch between the normal
or assigned down click (middle button) function in the Windows mouse driver
(or other mouse driver) and the left-click-and-hold function that LeftLock provides.
Specifications
System Requirements:
Any computer that uses a standard mouse with a USB or PS/2 port (adapter included).
Any operating system that uses a standard USB or PS/2 mouse.
Power Requirements:
No external power supply required. Ultra-low power needed is derived from the
computer interface (just like a standard mouse).
Controls:
Postion Joystick - Controls the mouse cursor position in eight directions; up,
down, left, right, up and left, up and right, down and left, down and right.
The position joystick self-centers when not being moved.
Clicker Joystick - Clicks or double-clicks left and right for left and right
mouse button functions. Click down to turn on scroll feature (this is the same
as the middle mouse button function on a three-button mouse). Scrolling is performed
using the position joystick when scroll feature is activated. Clicking left,
right or down again exits the scroll mode. Clicking up steps through four adjustable
pointer motion speed settings. The clicker joystick self-centers when not being
moved.
Speed Adjustments - Four access holes on back of the TetraMouse box are used
to adjust (preset) the four selectable speeds. Lightbar gives color-coded indication
of speed selection. The four speeds are selected by clicking up on the clicker
joystick.
Mounting Options
Articulated Arm - Extra strong, low cost mounting system for the TetraMouse
and/or other devices.
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