Note: Accent devices ship with two software options: Empower® or NuVoice®. For information on how to use head tracking with NuVoice software, see NuVoice: Setting Up Head Tracking.
To use head tracking to control your device, go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking & USB Input.
Once you select head tracking as the access method, head tracking is active and all settings for that user take effect immediately.
Head Tracking Selection Settings
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking & USB Input. The Head Tracking & USB Input window displays the head tracking settings on the Selection tab.
Two methods are available for activating a button.
Dwell: Select a button by dwelling on it. Buttons are selected automatically according to the Dwell Time you choose.
Switch: The user moves the cursor with his or her head and makes selections by activating a switch. Use the slider to adjust switch selection time.
Setting up Dwell Selection
Selection Type
In the Head Tracking & USB Input window, with the Selection tab selected, select the Dwell tab. When Dwell is selected, you can select a button by dwelling on it. Buttons are selected automatically according to the dwell time you choose.
Dwell Time
Dwell time is the amount of time you need to hold your head position to keep the cursor or pointer focused on a button to select it. For example, when dwell time is set to 0.5, a button is selected when you point at it for a half-second. Selectable numbers range from 0.0 to 10.0 seconds.
Setting up Switch Selection
In the Head Tracking & USB Input window, with the Selection tab selected, select the Switch tab.
Switch Selection Time
Adjust how long you must hold the switch to make a selection. Selection time ranges from 0 to 10 seconds.
Next Switch Selection Delay
Adjust how long you must wait after releasing the switch before you can select another button. Selection delay ranges from 0 to 10 seconds.
Additional Head Tracking Settings
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking & USB Input. The Head Tracking & USB Input window displays the head tracking settings. Select Settings.
Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode
When Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode is on, a keyboard will appear when you select a text field in edit mode. You do not need to select the keyboard icon. When Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode is off, you must select the keyboard icon to display the keyboard.
Pausing and Resuming Head Tracking
When head tracking is the current access method, a Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown appears at the top of the screen.
When head tracking is active, the button shows “Tracking is ON”.
When you dwell on the button, “Pause” is displayed. To pause head tracking, select Pause; the button changes to “Tracking is OFF”.
When head tracking is paused, the button shows “Tracking is OFF”.
When you dwell on the button, “Resume” is displayed. To resume head tracking, select Resume; the button changes to “Tracking is ON”.
When you want to pause head tracking but still be able to make menu selections with a finger, select Pause. Select Resume to resume using head tracking.
To show or hide the Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown, go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking Settings and then select the Settings tab. Select the Pause/Resume Dropdown toggle to turn the dropdown on 
or off 
.
Calibrating the Cursor
For the most part, when idle and the user is centered and parallel to the screen, the cursor should be in the center of the screen. If the cursor settles too high or low or too far left or right, it needs to be calibrated. In addition, if the user is straining to reach a target at the top, bottom, right, or left edges of the screen, the cursor needs to be calibrated.
Using the Default Calibration
The Default calibration is extremely flexible with regards to positioning changes. As an individual’s position changes, the default calibration allows the user to realign the cursor on-the-fly to accommodate the change. Align the cursor at an edge of the screen.
Default calibration is best explained using an example. If the cursor feels as though its resting position is too far to the left, align your head with the cursor at the left edge of the screen to re-center the cursor. Conversely, if the cursor feels too far to the right, align your head with the cursor at the right edge of the screen to re-center the cursor.
This same principle applies when realigning on the vertical axis.
Using the Centered Calibration
Note: This option is only available when using the NuPoint head tracking module.
The Centered calibration will adjust the position of the cursor so that it is centered with respect to the user’s current head position. If your orientation or position changes, you may need to re-center the cursor. For example, a device is mounted slightly to the left of the user on a wheelchair. Because of this, when the user looks straight ahead, the cursor may appear shifted to the right.
To compensate for this, have the user position his or her head at a comfortable, natural starting position and then select Centered. When you select Calibrate, the cursor is hidden temporarily and an image appears in the center of the screen. Have the user look at the image until the image disappears (after three seconds). The cursor will be centered.
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking & USB Input and select the Tracking tab.
For Cursor Calibration Type, select Centered. This will force the user to perform a calibration. After the first calibration, you can calibrate again by selecting the Calibrate button.
The Center Cursor Calibration window will appear.
Look at the center of the device screen. When you are ready, select Calibrate.
The centering image will appear in the center of the screen for approximately three seconds.
During this time, the device will record the user’s position (the reflective dot) and automatically center the cursor. After three seconds, the “Calibration complete!” screen will appear.
Test the calibration by moving the cursor to each target on the screen.
If you are able to reach the targets easily, select Finished.
If you have difficulty reaching the targets, select Recalibrate and try again.
If you still have difficulty reaching the targets, select Finished and adjust the Horizontal Adjust or Vertical Adjust settings. Then calibrate again.
When the calibration process is complete, you will be taken back to the Head Tracking & USB Input menu.
Recalibrate the Cursor with a Button Action
If you want to be able to recalibrate the head tracking cursor by choosing a button in your vocabulary, set up the Head Tracking Calibration action on a button.
To add the Head Tracking Calibration action to a button:
Select Menu > Editor.
Navigate to the button where you want to place the calibration button.
Select Edit and choose the button.
Select the Actions tab on the left. The Action List is displayed.
Select Add Action. Action categories are listed.
Select Access Method Functions.
Select the Head Tracking Calibration Choose button.
Select Finished. The action will be added to the button.
Before using your calibration button:
After you add the Head Tracking Calibration action to a button, you can calibrate the cursor only if the following conditions have been met.
NuPoint module is installed
Access Method is set to Head Tracking & USB Input
Cursor Calibration Type is set to Centered
Tracking is ON
To calibrate the cursor using your calibration button:
Go to the vocabulary page that includes the button you set up for calibration.
Select the button.
Follow the procedure in Calibrating the Cursor.
When the calibration process is complete, you will be taken back to where you were in your vocabulary.
Adding a Head Tracking Shortcut
When head tracking is the current access method and you have turned off the Pause/Resume Dropdown setting, you can use the Tracking shortcut to quickly toggle head tracking on or off from the Quick Menu.
Select Menu to open the Quick Menu.
Select Customize Quick Menu.
Select the space to which you want to add the Tracking shortcut. The space will change color.
Select the Tracking shortcut. The shortcut will appear in the selected space.
Select Save. The Tracking shortcut will show “Tracking is OFF” or “Tracking is ON” in the Quick Menu any time you select the Menu button. Select the shortcut to toggle the setting on or off.
Adjusting Head Tracking Settings
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Head Tracking & USB Input. The Head Tracking & USB Input window displays the head tracking settings. Select Tracking.
Smoothing
Increase smoothing to reduce the amount of cursor jitter and slow down cursor speed. Selectable values range from 1.0 to 10.0.
Vertical Adjust
Use Vertical Adjust to adjust the sensitivity of the cursor along the vertical axis. Increase the Vertical Adjust setting to make the cursor more responsive to small up and down movements of the head. 0 is visually the “slowest” setting and 10 the “fastest”.
A low Vertical Adjust setting (for example, 1) means you need larger head movements to move the cursor (greater range of motion). A high Vertical Adjust setting (for example, 10) means smaller head movements will move the cursor (limited range of motion).
Horizontal Adjust
Use Horizontal Adjust to adjust the sensitivity of the cursor along the horizontal axis. Increase the Horizontal Adjust setting to make the cursor more responsive to small left-to-right and right-to-left movements of the head. 0 is visually the “slowest” setting and 10 the “fastest”.
A low Horizontal Adjust setting (for example, 1) means you need larger head movements to move the cursor (greater range of motion). A high Horizontal Adjust setting (for example, 10) means smaller head movements will move the cursor (limited range of motion).
Cursor Calibration Type
Select the type of calibration based on the user’s capabilities with head movements.
Default: Select Default if the user can reliably align head movements with the cursor.
Centered: Select Centered if the user is unable to align head movements with the cursor.
Calibrate
Note: The Calibrate button is only available when Centered is selected.
When you have adjusted the settings, select the Calibrate button to begin the calibration process.
Empower Settings to Enhance Head Tracking
You may find that adjusting additional Empower settings will help the head tracking experience.
Cursor Feedback for Head Tracking
Adjust the appearance of the cursor. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Cursor.
Cursor: When Cursor is turned on, a real-time cursor appears on the screen in the shape of an arrow or hand. The default setting is on.
Cursor Size: Choose S (small), M (medium), or L (large).
Cursor Color: Select the Colors tab on the left side of the window and set the color of the cursor.
Dwell Feedback for Head Tracking
Adjust what you see when you dwell on a button. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Dwell Feedback.
Pointer: The pointer is an on-screen indicator that shows what button the user is pointing to. Choose None, Circle, or Square. The default is None.
Pointer Size: Choose a number between 1 and 10.
Pointer Animation: Choose None or Shrink.
Pointer Color: Select the Colors tab on the left side of the window and set the color of the pointer.
Dwell Feedback: Set how a button looks when you dwell on it. Choose None, Invert, Border, or Fill.
Selection Feedback for Head Tracking
Adjust what happens when you select a button. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Selection Feedback.
Selection Feedback: To see a visual indication when a button is selected, select Invert, Border, or Fill.
Beep: To hear a beep when a button is selected, turn Beep on.
Button Padding for Head Tracking
Padding provides additional space between buttons.
Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Vocabulary Settings.
Select the Button Preferences tab.
Set Button Padding (the space between buttons) as a percentage from 0% to 40%.
Adjust Action of Blank Buttons for Head Tracking
Choose how buttons with no content act.
Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Vocabulary Settings.
Select the Button Preferences tab.
Set Empty Button Action as either No Action or Go To Home.