IIT Madras startup has created a head-mounted wearable gadget for controlling computers

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As we live in a digital world, with computers playing a significant role in the majority of our jobs. Digital gadgets have bridged the gap between urban and rural people, making the job market accessible to all demographics. Each individual has the right to use such technology tools to advance in their careers. Pravin Kumar, 23, is the founder of Dextroware Devices, an IIT Madras-incubated firm. 

Pravin, an engineering graduate, became an entrepreneur after realizing that people with disabilities (PwDs), particularly upper limb (arms) amputees or those who lack control over their hands and fingers, find it difficult to utilize computers. Due to the unacceptably expensive costs of these arm prosthetics, 85 percent of the 40,000 people who lose their upper limbs (hands) live with no supporting aids. 

 

Furthermore, they pose many ergonomic issues when dealing with computers or other digital devices. Inability to use digital devices is caused not only by amputations, as well as by a variety of neurological conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Cerebral palsy, hand fracture, etc. 

This prompted Pravin to develop a unified solution capable of resolving these issues and launch Dextroware Devices in 2020. The assistive-tech business has created 'Mouseware,' a helmet-mounted wearable device that enables the hands-free operation of computers and smartphones using simple head movements. 

 

How does it function? 

Users must wear a helmet and spin their heads in the direction in which the mouse cursor must be moved. Their head movement corresponds to the position of the cursor on the screen. This device can also control smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. The finest thing is that we will not limit the user to wearing it in a particular way. It can be worn as a cap, spectacles, headset, or head strap. 

 

He goes on to say that the mouse click is accomplished by a variety of available switches, such as a footswitch, a finger switch, a universal switch, etc., and that the user is free to select any accessory based on their convenience. They provide voice typing using a speech-to-text algorithm that supports most English accents and local languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, and many others, and also foreign languages such as Chinese, German, and French. The operator can also utilize voice commands to conduct tasks or open applications, which can be customized. 

 

Dextroware has a group of 5 individuals working on the concept, and the device is now available for pre-order. During college after graduating college, he founded Dextroware Devices. He pitched the idea to the IIT-M incubation cell and was chosen. Dextroware was then accepted into the incubation program of Digital Impact Square, a TCS Foundation Project, in January 2021, and the firm received support and grants from both TCS and IIT Madras, which enabled it to design and refine Mouseware for commercial usage. Target market and opportunities

Dextroware is working in the assistive tech segment, which according to Pravin, is not well known in India due to many barriers. 

 

They investigated numerous elements and discovered a solution to the majority of the problems. Other participants implementing a similar solution, for example, did not address a critical component of computer usage – typing. They addressed the issue by adding a voice typing option as well as configurable voice commands. Furthermore, there was no single integrated solution for controlling all smart devices. Another significant impediment was the cost-effectiveness of such assistive technology. Other competitors offer a comparable solution for between Rs 45,000 and Rs 1 lakh. However, they have set the pricing of Mouseware at between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 to make it reasonable and accessible.

 

The business model 

The firm is still in the pre-revenue stage, but it has completed its pilot run. It will operate on a business-to-business (B2B) format, collaborating with firms and organizations that interact with people with disabilities. Dextroware intends to collaborate with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that assist people with upper limb disabilities. They are also interested in approaching ex-military personnel who may have lost or wounded their hands while serving. Most companies would like to hire people with Disabilities for jobs, and we would like to collaborate with them to make employment possible for PwDs. They would also wish to work with educational institutions that upskill people with disabilities, preparing them for employment opportunities.

 

Aside from the differently-abled, the firm is also addressing people who have been in accidents and have fractured their hands.As a result, they are collaborating with physiotherapy and orthopedic hospitals. Mouseware has also shown to be a great rehabilitation aid for persons looking for physical training while working or playing games that require muscle mobility. 

 

The Chennai-based business is already collecting pre-orders and plans to commercially launch it in January 2022. According to Pravin, it is now possible to contact those who want to get early access to or try Dextroware items before they are released. The venture was seed-funded by the IIT-M incubation cell with Rs 10 lakh, which enabled the company to complete the minimum viable product (MVP) and undertake the essential field trials. 

 

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