(via Eye-tracking tech: Countdown to lift-off? - E & T Magazine)
Eye-gaze or eye-tracking software has been discussed in class, and we were able to see a demonstration of it from Mr. Cunningham. Eye-gaze replaces the need to a mouse and keyboard and uses a person’s eye movements to determine what he or she wants to type, browse, or file to open. Different players in the game are Samsung with EyeCan+, Tobii (which we know of), and SensoMotoric and are starting to move eye-gaze into new fields such as video-gaming. Profit gain is a large part of the reason for companies to expand this technology into new fields. Eye-tracking technology went from being thousands of dollars some years ago to $100-$200 dollars.
Tobii is on the eye-gaze developer giants that has linked up with a gaming company, SteelSeries, to provide eye-gaze technology to PC games. It can be used as a third-person camera, can give an analysis of the player’s eye movements so he or she can improve one’s game, and finally, to videotape their play and give insight into their movements for fans. Eye-gaze may even move into mobile device gaming by next year.
The article notes that eye-gaze is not perfect because it is always “on” when using it so it has a difficult time determining interaction and eye movements of perception. My example for understanding this is to think about using eye gaze to get to a website. You can purposefully focus on the web icon until it is light up, and then move your eyes over to the column to select double-click to open it. But, say when you are on the website, you are reading and the eye gaze is thinking you are wanting to select a function on the screen. This could be potentially distracting and time consuming.
So how does this apply to Occupational therapy and assistive technology? Hopefully, if companies venture out to using this technology into new domains, it will shed further light on newer and better eye-gaze technologies for those who are limited. If the gaming industry is able to put eye-gaze on a mobile phone, another developer could take the foundation of that technology and apply it towards those who are unable to use his or her limbs, such as with high spinal cord injury. I also believe that if more people use this technology, ideas and concerns will be voiced; thus, generating ideas for improving this technology.
