Development of the assist system to operate a computer for the disabled

The purpose of this study is the development of the assist system to easily operate a computer for the disabled such as amputees. Using a mouse to operate the computer is the key of this assist system. Our system assists a mouse operation. To operate a computer using mouse, at least we need following five information. These are the horizontal movement (left or right) information, vertical movement (up or down) information and select movement (click) information. Our system requires three electromyography (EMG) signals of the arm instead of the mouse operation by the hand, and those EMG signals are used to become a control source for the mouse operation. Three EMG signals which are acquired from supinators, pronatorteres and Flexor carpi ulnaris by surface electrodes are used for the mouse operation in our system. The EMG signals which are generated by the movement of wrist flexion, wrist extension, pronation, supination and grasp are used to detect five movements of the mouse. In order to distinguish those five movements, we used frequency characteristics of EMG signals. Three EMG signals of three subjects were measured, A/D converted and frequency analyzed. In every case, from measured data, we can discriminate those five movements of the hand. So, our system will be a powerful device to support activities of the disabled.