Head Pointer

Transcript:

ALEX: I am 24 years old. I have been using a computer since I was five. In that time, a single head switch has always been the best input method. Head and eye tracking systems struggled with my movements. I didn’t have the motor skills to use a joystick. The switch was the only way. [23s]
[black and white studio montage]

CDH: Until now…
[head pointer CU]

ALEX:
macOS 10.15.4 introduced a new accessibility feature called Head Pointer. This uses the Mac’s built-in camera to track your head and move the pointer. This is how you set it up.
[13s]
[CDH moving pointer in studio]

In System Preferences, go to Accessibility, Pointer Control, Alternative Control Methods. In addition to mouse keys, there are two new features called Alternative Pointer Actions and Head Pointer. These two features work hand in hand, but enable Head Pointer first. In default, the pointer will always move with your head, no matter where it is. This is a bit like how traditional head tracking technology works. In my case, this doesn’t work, because of all my movements.
[33s]
[MacBook screen recordings + Christopher’s face]

Under Head Pointer options, I like to change the mouse to ‘When Facing Screen Edges’. In this mode, Head Tracking watches the orientation of your head, and works more like a joystick.

I can tilt my head up, down, left or right, or any combination of these to move the pointer where I want it. Head Pointer doesn’t care if I have my face straight or I can’t keep it perfectly still. It just cares about orientation. Under ‘Options’, you can adjust speed and the movement required before the pointer moves. This helps with filtering out unwanted movements.
[37s]
[MacBook screen recordings + Christopher’s face]

Now that we can move the pointer, we need to be able to perform actions. Go to the ‘Options’ button next to ‘alternative pointer actions’ and then click the ‘Plus’ button to add an action. You can either add a physical switch like the one on my headrest, or facial expression. You can choose, Smile, Open Mouth, Raise Eyebrows or Stick out Tongue. I use all of these with Left Click, Right Click, Double Click, and Drag and Drop. However, because the Left Click action is so repetitive, I also like to add a Physical Switch as another option.
[38s]
[MacBook screen recordings + Christopher’s head switch]

Now we need to configure Head Pointer, so it’s easy to turn on and off, instead of doing it in System Preferences. The first option is to add it to ‘Accessibility Shortcut’. In System Preferences, go to Accessibility, then Short Cut, and tick Head Pointer and, if you want, Alternative Pointer Actions.

For Accessibility keyboard, or Switch Control, there is a far quicker way. You can add a toggle button to
your panels. Open ‘Panel Editor’ from the Accessibility Keyboard or Switch Control pane, in System Preferences. If you don’t already have a Panel, you can add one by clicking ‘Add Panel’ and choosing one. Then click, Add Button.

In the Inspector, choose ‘System Event’ from the ‘Actions’ menu.

Choose from ‘Toggle Head Pointer, Toggle Alternative Pointer Actions’ or both.

If needed, set a button image. Then set your panel’s “show as” setting.

Finally, save your work, and your new button should appear in your panel. Simply activate it, to turn Head Pointer on or off.
[65s]
[MacBook screen recordings + Christopher’s face]

If you go to System Preferences, Accessibility, Display, you can do things like ‘increase contrast’ and adjust the cursor to make it easier to see.

Another really cool thing is if you go to the ‘Speech’ pane, you can turn on ‘speak items under pointer’. If you set this to ‘Always’, any item you hover over with the pointer will be spoken.
[23s]
[screen recordings + Christopher’s face]

Head Pointer allows me to use my computer natively for the first time. I don’t need any special software, or hardware.
[10s]
[logic]

CDH: More importantly, it’s crazy fast. This means I am able to explore more creative ideas in apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro and Adobe Lightroom. [25s]
[studio]