Eye PointingThis is a featured page


EyeTracker image
Image Source:EyeTech
Eye-tracking systems serve as a replacement for common input devices such as mouse, keyboard or remote control. Using such systems, users with complex physical disabilities can operate computers and other connected devices simply by moving their eyes. An eye-tracking system consists of a camera which continuously scans one of the user's eyes and of a software which analyses the picture captured by the camera to determine which exact point on the screen the user is looking at.

In case the user is not able to operate any other form of switch to make selections, staring or blinking at a certain button or other object on the screen is equivalent to clicking on that same object with a mouse. By displaying a computer keyboard or control panels of other devices on the screen, the user is able to fully operate a computer and control systems connected to it. This enables him or her to type, surf the web, use e-mail, control environment, play games, synthesize speech etc.



Technological Requirements


Eye-tracking systems consist of a camera, stand, software and some other equipment. As proper connection to the PC and installation of the whole system is quite complex, this is usually done by qualified staff sent by the retailer

Examples of eye tracking systems


  • Eye Gaze. A communication and control system for people with complex physical disabilities. The system is operated entirely with the eyes. By looking at control keys displayed on a screen, a person can synthesize speech, control his environment (lights, call bells, etc.), type, run computer software, operate a computer mouse, and access the Internet and e-mail.

    The EyeGaze 'Edge'
    image of the EyeGaze Edge
    Images source: (EyeGaze)    		Image of someone using EyeGaze

  • Quick Glance. An eye tracking system that is operated entirely with the eyes. The software is designed to run in the background while the user is working with standard Windows applications. It allows the user to place the mouse pointer anywhere on the screen simply by looking at the desired location. "Clicking" can be done with an eye blink, a hardware switch, or by staring (dwell). Quick Glance can be used for writing, surfing the Web, computer-aided design, games etc.

  • Alea IG30 eye pointer systemAlea Technologies IntelliGaze IG30 System. Uses the latest camera technology and sophisticated image processing and calibration methods. The IG-30 system claims to be far superior to alternative gaze input systems at a similar price point. The modular structure of the system allows patients with a degenerative disease, the continued use of their touch-screen or scanning software package. Using existing computers and monitors, the IG-30 system can also be easily integrated into an existing PC setup.

    Using the IG30 to play games



    Read more . . .

    IntelliGaze IG30 - What you see is where you click (watch the video)


  • GUIDe EyePoint. The EyePoint™ software allows users to perform basic mouse operation by using a combination of gaze and hotkeys. It reduces / eliminates the dependency on the mouse for most everyday tasks such as surfing the web.




  • ROLLTalk

    Compact Rolltalk is a communication aid for people with speech disabilities.
    Compact Rolltalk also lets you operate a wheelchair, control your environment, and use mobile phones, e–mail and the Internet.



    More RollTalk products . .

  • DynaVox EyeMax. It is comprised of two parts: a DynaVox Vmax and a DynaVox EyeMax Accessory. The EyeMax System allows augmented communicators to access their DynaVox EyeMaxVmax with a simple blink, or by dwelling on a desired area of the screen. The EyeMax does not need the user to “do” or “wear” anything. Simply sit in front of it, go through an initial calibration and the user is ready to go. The only item that the EyeMax will work with is the DynaVox Vmax. It will not work with any other device – including the V, DV4, 3100, etc. It will not work with other SGD devices, nor with any commercial computer/laptop/tablet item. EyeMax + Vmax = the DynaVox EyeMax System. No other combination exists.


  • MyTobiiMyTobii. A portable eye-controlled communication device. Everything, including the monitor screen, eye control device and computer, is integrated into one unit. It just needs connecting to a power source, such as a wall socket, power wheelchair or separate battery. The device can be mounted for use at a desk, wheelchair, bed or anywhere suitable for the user. What they say about the MyTob


  • EyeTech.

    The EyeTech SGD is a dedicated speech generation device, which when used in conjunction with the EyeTech TM3 (formerly known as Quick Glance 3SH) allows the user to generate speech using eye control.
    Setting up the EyeTech TM3

    		EyeTech TM3

    EyeTech TM3
    EyeTech SGD

    EyeTech SGD


    Using Dynavox with the EyeTech TM3


    More about the EyeTech . . .


  • Dasher. Eye tracking systems can be integrated with other forms of Assistive technologies One example integrates withDasher, to create and eye tracking system Dasher screenshotfor text recognition and speech output. It is a complex program - a zooming interface. You point where you want to go and the display zooms in wherever you point. Where you are pointing is painted with letters, so that any point you zoom in on corresponds to a pice of text. The more you zoom in, the longer the piece of text you have written. You choose what you write by choosing where to zoom. You can read more about this clever software at: News BBC / Dasher



    Dasher can also be used without an eye tracking system - it can be used with just a mouse or on a keyboard single handed.

  • ERIKA. Eye tracking system with patented zooming methodology, which magnifies areas on the computer screen to allow the user to more reliably execute a mouse action at a desired location. This allows the user to access almost any Windows application.





    What they say about ERIKA.

Open Source Eye Gaze


  • ITU Gaze Group. The Gaze Group is a research group located at the IT University of Copenaghen. They are primarily focused on eye tracking, gaze interaction and the use of gaze for usability studies. They aim to establish accessible alternatives for gaze tracking systems to raise awareness about this technology and bring it to the mainstream.

    Gaze Tracking

    ITU Gaze Tracker

    Open-source gaze tracker developed at the IT University of Copenhagen.



    Setting up the Gaze Tracker

    		Gaze Typing

    GazeTalk

    Multilanguage eye-typing application with predictive text input



    StarGazer

    Novel eye-typing application where characters are selected by zooming in 3D space

    Gaze-Based Interfaces

    EyeTube

    Accessible interface for YouTube designed to be controlled by eye movements. The EyeTube prototype offers eye controlled interface for the popular YouTube service. Instead of emulating a mouse pointer and interacting with a web browser the EyeTube interface is especially designed to be driven by gaze input.


  • Opengazer.

    An open source application that uses an ordinary webcam to estimate the direction of your gaze. This information can then be passed to other applications.

    For example, used in conjunction with Dasher, opengazer allows you to write with your eyes. Opengazer aims to be a low-cost software alternative to commercial hardware-based eye trackers.

    The user first selects "load points", which loads and matches a previously selected set of point trackers on the face, which allows opengazer to extract the image of the eye and compute head orientation. Then, the "calibrate" routine displays a series of red points on the screen, at which the user is ask to look. As the calibration progresses, the current gaze estimate, represented by a small blue circle is getting better and better. Finally, the user selects "test", which displays a series of green points to test and show the accuracy of the gaze tracking. More about Opengazer . . .

Eye Gaze Resources


COGAIN (Communication by Gaze Interaction).
An organisation at the cutting-edge of expertise on interface technologies for the benefit of users with disabilities. The network aims to gather Europe's leading expertise in eye tracking integration with computers in a research project on assistive technologies for citizens with motor impairments.


Eye Tracking Suppliers





invisiblebloke
invisiblebloke 		Latest page update: made by invisiblebloke , Sep 2 2009, 10:01 AM EDT (about this update About This Update invisiblebloke Edited by invisiblebloke

64 words added
64 words deleted
1 image added
1 image deleted

view changes
- complete history)
Keyword tags: MND. physical needs
More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
invisiblebloke Mouse control via a contact lens ?!! 0 Jun 4 2009, 4:29 AM EDT by invisiblebloke
Thread started: Jun 4 2009, 4:29 AM EDT  Watch
Could this be the future for eye tracking technology?

This extract was taken from an article at: http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/01/16/contact-lens-kinda-makes-you-cyborgy/

"This one’s kinda hard to swallow so take a deep breath, open your minds, and pretend it’s 2100. I CONTACT is essentially a mouse fitted to your eyeball. The lens is inserted like any other normal contact lens except it’s laced with sensors to track eye movement, relaying that position to a receiver connected to your computer. Theoretically that should give you full control over a mouse cursor. I’d imagine holding a blink correlates to mouse clicks."

Read the rest of the article and see the images at: http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/01/16/contact-lens-kinda-makes-you-cyborgy/
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Showing 1 of 1 threads for this page

Related Content

  (what's this?Related ContentThanks to keyword tags, links to related pages and threads are added to the bottom of your pages. Up to 15 links are shown, determined by matching tags and by how recently the content was updated; keeping the most current at the top. Share your feedback on Wetpaint Central.)
Switches Joysticks Tongue Control
Mouse emulation