DailyIndia.com reports:

Global computer maker IBM has announced that it has developed a new mouse adapter that will eliminate excessive cursor movement for users who suffer from hand tremors.

The International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) says that roughly 10 million people in the United States alone are affected by Essential Tremor, the most common form of hand tremors.

The involuntary movements of the hand when using a computer mouse make it extremely difficult to operate a PC. Simple tasks like opening an email or navigating the web are made almost impossible because of the erratic movements of the cursor on the screen.

“Tremor conditions can have a devastating effect on people’s lives because they make many simple everyday tasks incredibly difficult – everything from holding a drink, to buttoning a shirt,” said Catherine Rice of the International Essential Tremor Foundation. “Using a computer mouse is well known for being extremely hard for people with tremors so we’re delighted to hear that a technology has been developed to address this problem – we anticipate that it will generate a huge interest with sufferers of the condition.”

The new mouse adapter filters out the shaking movements of the hand akin to how an image stabilizing system of some camera lenses work. The device will be simple to use with no additional software needed.

IBM has licensed the new mouse adapter to British company Montrose Secam which plans to manufacture and sell the Assistive Mouse Adapter for under USD $100. The company plans to donate a percentage of sales from the adapter to local tremor foundations to help offer support and advice to sufferers of tremor conditions.