  This paper presents the development and preliminary validation of a control
interface based on a sequence matching algorithm. An important challenge in the
field of assistive technology is for users to control high dimensionality
devices (e.g., assistive robot with several degrees of freedom, or computer)
with low dimensionality control interfaces (e.g., a few switches). Sequence
matching consists in the recognition of a pattern obtained from a sensor's
signal compared to a predefined pattern library. The objective is to allow the
user to input several different commands with a low dimensionality interface
(e.g., Morse code allowing inputting several letters with a single switch). In
this paper, the algorithm is used in the context of the control of an assistive
robotic arm and has been adapted to a sip-and-puff interface where short and
long bursts can be detected. Compared to a classic sip-and-puff interface, a
preliminary validation with 8 healthy subjects has shown that sequence matching
makes the control faster, easier and more comfortable. This paper is a proof of
concept that leads the way towards a more advanced algorithm and the usage of
more versatile sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMU).
