IBM said it is licensing the product to UK electronics company Montrose Secam, who plans to manufacture and sell the Assistive Mouse Adapter for under $100.

Tremors make it difficult for sufferers to use a mouse to conduct computer-based tasks due to the involuntary movements of the cursor. The new mouse adapter filters out the shaking movements of the hand using steadying technology usually found in camcorders.

According to the World Health Organization, there are over 750 million persons worldwide with disabilities, and about 10 million US citizens suffer from the genetic condition Essential Tremor. Tremors usually affect the elderly but they can occur in people of all ages, and this has caused some concern in the IT industry since it is expected that the number of elderly computer users will increase as the population evolves. IBM hopes to exploit this problem by offering its new device as a way of applying technology to improve the quality of life.

Montrose Secam 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.

As the job market places increasing importance on information technology skills, it becomes essential that workers with disabilities and older workers have easy access to solutions that maximize their long-term employment opportunities, noted Andrew Imparato, CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. The mouse adapter that IBM is launchingis a great example of a solution that will make a tremendous difference in the lives of millions of end users.