Despite having a name that induces chuckles in many English speakers, Kinki University (Kinki being the name of the region around Osaka) is a well-respected school, with roots stretching back to 1925 when it came into existence as Osaka Technical College.

In keeping with the school’s long history of pursuing technological advancement, a team at Kinki University has recently developed a mouse that allows users to operate their PC with nothing more than their breath.

On October 28, researchers from Kinki University’s Biology-Oriented Science and Technology Department’s Human Ergonomic Engineering Robotics Research Lab presented their breath-operated mouse to reporters.

The device takes the form of a tube placed in the user’s mouth. A sensor within the tube measure the strength and duration of the user’s breaths, which are then converted into input commands. By combining strong and soft inhalations and exhalations, the user can move the cursor up, down, left, or right. Quickly and forcefully blowing or sucking air will produce right and left clicks, respectively.

▼ The hands-free interface immediately eliminates the age-old problem of Cheetos dust on your PC mouse (and simultaneously creates the brand new problem of Cheetos dust on your monitor).

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As enticing as a breath-controlled mouse may be to the severely lazy, in fact the team from Kinki University developed the item for the severely disabled who lack either the upper body mobility or appendages necessary to use a traditional mouse. The researchers hope this will, in turn, provide such individuals with better access to online news and learning outlets, as well as allow them to communicate with others more easily through social networking websites.

Kinki University issued no statement regarding the significant improvements to quality of life represented by the increased ability to visit RocketNews24 that their technological breakthrough represents, no doubt secure that disseminating such obvious information falls outside the responsibilities for an exalted institute of higher learning.

Source: IT Media
Top image: Livedoor
Insert images: Goo, Wikipedia