Breathing Input

An alternative computer input method that uses deliberate breath actions — such as puffing, blowing, or inhaling — detected by a microphone or pressure sensor as control signals for navigating interfaces and selecting items. Breathing input is designed for people with severe motor disabilities who retain voluntary breath control but cannot use their hands, voice, or other body movements for input. Unlike traditional sip-and-puff controllers that require a dedicated tube-based device, newer breathing input systems can use a device's built-in microphone to detect puff sounds, requiring no additional hardware. Breath actions can be differentiated by duration (short vs. long), force (soft vs. hard), and pattern (single vs. double), providing multiple distinct input signals from a single physiological channel. Breathing input is typically combined with scanning interfaces where items are highlighted sequentially and a puff selects the current item.