Sip-and-Puff

An assistive technology input device that detects air pressure changes from a user sipping (inhaling) or puffing (exhaling) through a straw or tube to generate control signals. Sip-and-puff systems are primarily used by people with severe motor impairments, particularly those with high-level spinal cord injuries or conditions affecting all four limbs, to control power wheelchairs, computers, and other devices. The system typically maps different combinations of sips and puffs (hard sip, soft sip, hard puff, soft puff) to directional commands or selections. While effective for users with very limited physical movement, sip-and-puff systems have a limited input vocabulary compared to other input methods, and some users find them fatiguing or socially conspicuous.