Computer users take a lot of things for granted nowadays. Whereas we were once required to type every command we no longer need to do that. Everything we need can be reached within a few mouse clicks. But what happens when for one reason or another you are unable to use the mouse? An illness or injury can often leave a person unable to use it. We all know that using Windows exclusively with the keyboard is extremely hard, if not impossible.

NaturalPoint are a company that specializes in alternative control methods. We already reviewed their gaming oriented TrackIR, but somebody who has problems using the mouse probably won’t do much gaming. This is where the SmartNav comes into play. The device which is similar in design and function to the TrackIR is aimed at controlling the mouse cursor in Windows and MacOS (Linux is not supported so far) without the usage of hands.

The device

The SmartNav is available in three different packages. They all contain the tracking device, the software CD and 26 tracking dots. The AT model includes a Y-split adapter used to connect different switch inputs (more on these in a bit). The top model is the EG, which other than the Y-split adapter and the standard package contents comes with two tracking rings. We reviewed the AT model, but since we did not test any of the clicking extras that can be purchased separately most of our findings stand for all three models (unless stated otherwise). The track hat you can see in the picture below is an extra, though it offers no additional functionality over the tracking dots.

The device itself is very high-tech looking, thanks to the sleek curved lines and transparent casing (although I’m sure a black/white casing would have looked even better). The tracking head is mounted onto a tripod which serves as the base of the unit. The connection between the head and base allows users to swivel and pivot the tracker, so there is virtually no chance of not being able to turn the sensor towards the user (if needed the software supports 90°, 180° and 270° rotation). The unit can be attached to a computer monitor with the help of the provided clip – in this case the three legs on the unit serve as stabilizers. NaturalPoint also support an alternate mounting method, used for laptop screens which are fairly thin when compared to standard monitors (this method won’t work on most LCDs as they are approximately two times thicker than a standard laptop screen). Here no extra clip is needed, as we bend two of the metal legs and then clip the whole unit onto the screen (see picture).

The SmartNav uses infra red light to track movements of reflective metallic surfaces. The provided reflective dots can be used in conjuncture with glasses or a headset. The SmartNav hat we used for our tests uses the same principle as it has a reflective surface in the front and back (for all the hip people who want to wear the hat turned around). Unlike the TrackIR which uses three reference points the SmartNav only uses one, so it is by design less accurate and it only supports two axis sensing which is perfect for mouse emulation.

The software

The SmartNav AT software CD features three applications. The main application is of course the SmartNav suite, which contains the drivers and software needed to use the device. Next in line is the voice recognition software, which if installed allows users to control clicking with voice commands. The last piece of software is the onscreen keyboard, which is exclusive to the AT model we reviewed. We tested all the applications in Windows XP and Windows Vista, and expect for a small issue we had with the voice recognition software installation (we had to enable Windows XP SP2 emulation in Vista) everything worked “out of the box”.

Once the main suite is installed the user can connect the SmartNav to the computer via USB and almost immediately start using it. For the device to work the SmartNav software must be running – if needed it can be set to run at startup. The application supports different profiles, which contain information about which keys on the keyboard will emulate the mouse buttons (by default, the windows key is used to simulate left clicking), speed and sensitivity settings and hotkey settings. The interface is very basic, but because of that it is also very easy to use and navigate. Using the AT model we also had another option available – dwell clicking. The name is self explanatory – resting the mouse cursor in one spot for a certain amount of time counts as a mouse click. A taskbar at the top of the screen (by default) gives users the ability to switch the clicking mode to double click, drag or right click. All of these modes only remain enabled for a single click, so you don’t have to hover your cursor over the left click button after right clicking for example.

Voice commands are supported on all three models and they work fairly well. We tested command issuing with a headset and with an integrated laptop microphone. In both scenarios the software managed to recognize most of our commands such as “left click”, “left down” and “left up”. We had some issues due to the fact that the cursor must remain stationary during the command issuing for the command to take effect however. After spending a few hours using the device exclusively things improved.

Using the SmartNav

To give a fair review we tested the device for several days, spending at least 2 hours daily using the device exclusively to operate our computer. Our initial impression was very condemning. Although the device did a remarkable job of translating our head movements (we were using the hat) into cursor motion, it took as considerably longer to do anything involving the mouse cursor. Opening the internet browser took well over 5 seconds (some people might have fewer issues to begin with due to being able to stand absolutely still) and using Word to read a document was a hit and miss nightmare.

With each passing day things improved however. We learned to keep our head still and minor adjustments became second nature. After a good week of using the device I can honestly say that I can use the SmartNav to do pretty much anything that would ordinarily require a mouse. Voice commands are a must in this case, because using dwell clicking takes way longer – it’s not impossible, but it’s painfully slow. Using one of the clicking devices which are sold separately or the keyboard shortcuts is the most time efficient however and we were able to do most of the tasks in the same time we would normally when using the mouse.

Some of you are probably interested how well the SmartNav performs in applications that require a lot of precision such as Photoshop or games. The answer is: “Surprisingly well”. You probably won’t be able to play a lone sniper in Counter Strike or paint the next Mona Lisa in Photoshop, but with enough patience you can do nearly anything. We would consider you avoid using such applications at first though. Perhaps what we experienced isn’t a common occurrence, but trying to keep the cursor still or do only minor adjustments caused us some neck pains at the end of the first and second day. Later on we got used to how the device works, which also meant we relaxed. This in turn caused the neck pains to go away.

Conclusion

Being able to use a mouse we found it hard to stick to using the SmartNav exclusively. On the other hand, we would have loved it in case one of us had a broken arm. Considering it took us only a week to get fully adjusted to using our head to control the Windows cursor speaks volumes about the quality of the tracking implementation, not to mention the impressive software features. For somebody who is unable to use the mouse the device is a godsend – setting it up may require some outside help, but once you are set it only takes a few days (possibly more or less, depending on the user) to get fully acquainted with all the features the SmartNav has. People with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will also be able to appreciate the hands free control the SmartNav provides. It may not be as accurate as a mouse, but it is as close as you can get!

Information on purchasing available here

What do these awards mean?