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CES: Using Eye Movements to Control a Computer or TV (Video)
Imagine not being able to move a mouse or use a keyboard to control your computer. Frustrating, right? A company Timothy Lord found at CES named Eyetech has a solution for this problem: an eye tracker system that can control your computer or TV (or whatever) purely through eye movements. This isn't something you buy on a whim; the system costs $3000. That's a lot, but Eyetech claims they were the first ones to produce a high-accuracy eye tracker for less then $20,000. Obviously, this is a boon to profoundly disabled people. But Eyetech's Keith Jackson says, in the video, that they also have customers who use Eyetech instead of a mouse because of carpal tunnel syndrome, and that with voice recognition and on-screen keyboards -- and Eyetech, of course -- you can use your computer without (literally) lifting a finger.
The Nouse, from years ago. $150.
I believe there was another version that used eyeblinks for mouse clicks.
I can still move the mouse easily. It's what's happening with my other hand that gets more frustrating the older I get.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
It's 2013. I want to hear about brain controlled computers, not eye-tracking systems. We've had that for decades.
Speaking of advertisements, I could see this being abused for next gen of intrusive ads.
No more worrying about click throughs or whatever. Imagine your computer or TV just being able to report back to ad central which ads the users are looking at. THAT is the only impetus that would ever push this technology forward into common use in the future. It would, of course, be marketed as a convenience for the user or viewer, but it all comes back to the advertisers wanting to know exactly what the user is focusing on. Don't think for a minute that that information wouldn't be a gold mine to the right people, privacy be further damned!
I have tried a similar system at Eyetech's competitor Tobii where eye-tracking was used instead of a mouse.
While it was relatively precise and fast, it felt weird and constraining. Instead of the pointing device being an extension of myself, where I was controlling the pointer, the computer was controlling where I was going to look.
I don't keep my gaze fixed on the mouse pointer all the time, just as I don't always keep both eyes on both hands all the time when I am doing various tasks.
It felt also as if gaze-as-mouse could give me serious eye strain after prolonged use.
I think that the model is fundamentally wrong. My eyes are part of my input device, not my output device (that is controlling the pointer when I am using a mouse).
"We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
Why spend $3000 when a similar program that uses any webcam is available at the link below for free?
http://eyemouse.org/
It's been around for a while. I remember trying it about 5 years ago. It might be useful in some areas.