The smartest, most-accomplished person on the planet, Stephen Hawking, communicates with his friends and the world using “cheek movements” to send signals to his computer. He is reported to have tried eye-controlled movement technology but found the process to be slower. As Hawking continually looks into new assistive technologies, the recent release of a new eye movement-activated software may yet improve his communication speed.
A company called Tobii (pronounced Toby) won an International Computer Electronics Show (CES) Innovations Design and Engineering Award 2014 in the “best of innovations” category for its solution providing hands-free access and operation of a computer.
Tobii Eyemobile helps users control touch-based interface Windows 8 Pro tablets, using simple eye movements. The product includes both software and hardware powered by the tablet battery. Users with mobility impairments, fatigue or confined quarters can use the tablet virtually anywhere: in bed, in the car, at the dinner table, in a submarine or on a desktop or laptop computer.
Tobii EyeMobile includes the Tobii PCEye Go eye tracker and mounting brackets. The eye activated interface “increases the bandwidth” between the game and the person playing it, according to Gabe Newell, CEO and founder of Valve.
Improved Gaming
Imagine playing an interactive game where a character responds to your gaze just like in real life or an opponent in a boxing game blocks your punch because he sees where you are looking. Or imagine using software where the interface changes depending on where a player’s eyes are focused.
For more information on Tobii’s wide array of assistive and gaming products, visit the company’s website.
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- Navdy’s Voice and Gesture Controls Help You Multitask While Keeping Your Eyes on the Road
- Sony Eyes Google Glass with Its SmartEyeglass Release in March 2015
- Machining By Microscope! Precision Machining Needs MORE Than The Eye Can See.
References and related content:
- Lenovo Demonstrates Eye-Tracking Laptop for Stare-Controlled Computing | Popular Science
- Controlling a Computer with Your Eyes | MIT Technology Review
- IEEE Xplore Abstract – Eye tracking mouse for human computer interaction
