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That's great news for OP.

PS: The correct link is http://www.tobii.com/en/assist...

The usual "This is not medical advice" disclaimer applies to the below.

Yes, there are methods of communication involving computers and gaze recognition. (For example: http://www.tobii.com/en/assist... or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... ). I read in ye olde days there were analog 'gaze boards', and maybe your sister-in-law can develop codes (eyes left yes, lip up no...) But you also need to have conversations with her physicians - maybe they want her working / tiring by blinking for a therapeutic or rehabilitation reason... And the care team for your sister-in-law should be better in touch with what's out there as resources for her and be able to discuss that with you, or you should look into changing that team. (Moderated by knowing the care team will want to get some data over time to determine the best course of action to take - they may need to wait long enough to get data before they'll make a recommendation.)

In any event, deep sympathy for you, your wife, and family!

So sorry to hear about this! I hope she recovers from it. I did a quick google search on this and found a few companies who are using eye tracking to communicate, generally using duration of eye gaze (and not blinking) to activate. Here are a few: http://www.tobii.com/en/assist... http://www.eyegaze.com/eye-tra... There may be others as well.

They do.

http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/north-america/

Disclaimer: My late wife used a Tobii C17 for communication before she passed away.

What makes you think he's sampling 30fps video? There's even a link to the eye-tracking hardware.

http://www.tobii.com/en/eye-tracking-research/global/products/hardware/tobii-tx300-eye-tracker/

The C15 page indicates the Optional phone module is GSM, Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz

The manual indicates it is only Optional on the C15 because a non-RF model of the C15 is available. So it would seem that any network that can provide voice service over those bands and will provide SIM-only service is fine.

in the US that would be both AT&T and Tmobile (850/1900 MHz). I believe even Verizon will sell you a SIM, but only for overseas roaming.

specs http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/north-america/products/hardware/tobii-C15/technical-specifications/
manual http://www.tobii.com/Global/Assistive/Downloads_Training_Documents/C-Series/PDF/GettingStartedGuideC-Series/Tobii_GettingStartedGuide_CSeries_V1_3_01032012_UsEng_WEBHQ.pdf?epslanguage=en

The C15 page indicates the Optional phone module is GSM, Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz

The manual indicates it is only Optional on the C15 because a non-RF model of the C15 is available. So it would seem that any network that can provide voice service over those bands and will provide SIM-only service is fine.

in the US that would be both AT&T and Tmobile (850/1900 MHz). I believe even Verizon will sell you a SIM, but only for overseas roaming.

specs http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/north-america/products/hardware/tobii-C15/technical-specifications/
manual http://www.tobii.com/Global/Assistive/Downloads_Training_Documents/C-Series/PDF/GettingStartedGuideC-Series/Tobii_GettingStartedGuide_CSeries_V1_3_01032012_UsEng_WEBHQ.pdf?epslanguage=en

I don't think 640x800 will be a problem. That's per eye for a start and not focusing on a single screen image. Plus this will work differently, it will wrap around your vision.

Really I'd like to see this paired with Tobii eye tracking http://www.tobii.com/ which looked amazing the last demo I saw on line. You could maybe boost the detail where ever the eye look,s like normal eyes work, but I was thinking more game interaction since you can react and interact faster with something on screen just by looking - they should have this in main stream gaming co op games would really take off - i.e highlight an area of interest to your partner, or attack an enemy, or block an incoming attack, trace a path to use with your eyes. [or look in a direction and press a button to move towards it, movement seem to be the biggest problem this would be quit novel] etc.

Second, paired with Leap http://leapmotion.com/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/gesture-controls-get-a-huge-boost-with-new-leap-interaction-system/ if one was placed on the headset facing down it could track arm and hand positions.

Then if you could track the headsets location in a room you could design games around an arena with real movement. Now that would be awesome.

You heard it here first.

Not only too soon but too expensive.

Tobii (the Swedish company in question) has products that start at $7500 bucks per unit.
http://www.tobii.com/corporate/eye_tracking/our_technology.aspx

Further, all of their devices require custom installations.
http://www.tobii.com/market_research_usability/products_services/eye_tracking_hardware/tobii_x120_eye_tracker.aspx

Although they claim it works with eyeglasses in the real world that does not work due to the narrow range of tints and prescriptions that can be handled.

Not only too soon but too expensive.

Tobii (the Swedish company in question) has products that start at $7500 bucks per unit.
http://www.tobii.com/corporate/eye_tracking/our_technology.aspx

Further, all of their devices require custom installations.
http://www.tobii.com/market_research_usability/products_services/eye_tracking_hardware/tobii_x120_eye_tracker.aspx

Although they claim it works with eyeglasses in the real world that does not work due to the narrow range of tints and prescriptions that can be handled.

Chameleon uses gaze-tracking software and camera equipment to track an authorized reader's eyes... "Check, that's doable now."

Well, sort of. A decent eye tracker (example 1, example 2) costs $15,000 to $30,000 (please do not request a link to a price quote - the fact that they don't list prices on their pages should be a good clue). And this scrambling system would be worse than useless with a bad eye tracker. (PS, please, please prove me wrong by posting a link to a cheap, robust, accurate eye-tracking solution!)

The most impressive eye-tracking device I've ever seen is Tobii. It's based on infrared sensors which detect the movement of your eyes. I was pretty much amazed with the accuracy of the device, much better than I thought it would be.

Just got back from CeBIT, tried out an eye tracking device made by Tobii. I guess the technology has been around for a while now (the girl at the stand said they've been in business since 2003 I think) but I've never had a chance to try it out myself. Very, very impressive.

Basically you control the mouse pointer with just your eyes. The calibration is dead simple, you just need to look at two corners of your screen and that's it. The accuracy of the device amazed me completely. The sentiment is perhaps best conveyed by my a comment made by a colleague of mine after trying out the device: "dude, let's go to a strip bar. We've just seen a computer you can control with your eyes. What else could impress us... but tits?"

Their main use cases so far are disabled persons, but it's also used by e.g. marketing people to check which parts of the add your eyes focus on mostly etc.

A google search for "eye tracking hardware" will give a good range of companies.

There are actually LCD monitors which actually have built in eye tracking hardware.