The computer mouse is no longer so mighty. A Canadian engineer has invented a system that enables a computer user to push a cursor1 across a screen simply by moving his or her nose. He calls his nose-driven mouse a nouse.

　　The inventor, Dmity Gorodnichy, came up with the idea for the nouse while building computer software that would help astronauts operate the Canadarm — a long robotic2 arm on the U.S. space shuttle3. His system employs a Webcam4 that identifies a computer user's nose from 25 pixels5, or points of light. Dmity chose the nose because its position remains relatively constant no matter which way the head is tilted6. The system keeps track of the pixels, and the user matches the movements of his or her nose with the progress of the cursor across the monitor.

　　The nouse keeps track of the eyes too. Two blinks are a “double click,” which turns the nouse on or off.

　　The nouse has received mixed reviews from critics. One called it “a singularly7 pointless8 waste of technology” destined9 for “techno-oblivion10.” Another predicted that the device will fail to catch on11 because it makes users “look silly.”

　　Unfazed12 by the thumbs-down13 notices, Dmity has already adapted the nouse for NousePong, a video game, and NousePaint, a drawing program.

　　He also predicts that the nouse will appeal to14 people who have carpal tunnel syndrome15 - pain, numbness16, or tingling17 in the hand caused by the excessive repetition of specific motions of the wrist and fingers, such as typing at a computer keyboard. His next plan is to adapt the nouse for use by paralyzed18 patients in hospitals. With two blinks of the eyes, patients could double-click for help.