Eye Tracking Assistive Technology Plays an Instrumental Role in the Life of a Six-Year Old
By Tara Rudnicki – President, Tobii ATI
Over a century old, eye tracking technology is mostly known for its use by market researchers and advertisers to better learn where consumers’ eyes fall on websites and in stores, so they can decide how to target them based on their eye gaze. However, in just the past five years the technology has opened up new possibilities, as it’s now being used to help those with speech and mobility disabilities communicate.
From seeing to typing to speaking, the technology enables computers to determine precisely where a person is looking, so that instead of a keyboard and mouse, individuals simply use their gaze to type out words to turn into speech. They can also connect with others through e-mail, Facebook and instant messaging, surf the Internet, play music and games, and manage their day. For a more technical explanation, eye tracking works by reflecting invisible infrared light onto an eye, recording the reflection pattern with a sensor system, and then calculating the exact point of gaze using a geometrical model.
Typically, speech and movement are things we learn and acquire at a young age and naturally take for granted. However, for those with diseases like Cerebral Palsy, ALS/MND, or have acquired a disability through an injury or a stroke, this is not the case. Those faced with mobility or speech disabilities, which impair the ability to communicate, are forced to realize how essential communication is to our daily lives; without it, we are isolated, making everyday tasks difficult and a rich social life near impossible. This is where eye tracking technology comes into play.
According to United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), an estimated 764,000 children and adults in the United States suffer from one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Currently, approximately 8,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with the condition each year, while some 1,200-1,500 preschool age children are recognized each year to have Cerebral Palsy (1). Additionally, the ALS Association reports that 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year, while it’s estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time (2).
Then there are others like six-year-old Janika Cremer, whose muscles and nerves do not work as they should, which results in her not being able to rely on her legs or hands. Her illness, which is similar to Cerebral Palsy, has yet to be diagnosed. Many people with conditions like Janika are unaware of the emerging technologies and funding options that exist to assist them in their daily lives. Fortunately, Janika’s family learned about assistive technology solutions with eye tracking.
After receiving her eye tracking technology equipment in April 2010, Janika is now able to communicate with her family and friends as she never had before. Since she is at such a young age, she uses pictures and symbols to communicate, and can combine the two to give commands like “Mom” and “please come here,” allowing her to actively start a conversation. As she learns to read and write, Janika will be able to use the technology for more purposes in more ways.
Currently, she is learning colors, numbers, letters and money – things she will take with her when she enrolls in school in the Fall of 2011. Janika also uses the technology to play games with her kindergarten friends and to show pictures from family trips. Memory is one of her favorite games, which she plays directly on the computer screen with friends and family. It is evident that through proper implementation of this assistive technology, Janika has become a more active and independent child with a richer social life.
Even more, the technology has allowed Janika’s family and friends to continue to realize how much she actually understands – something otherwise difficult to demonstrate for a child without a voice. Janika’s mother is confident that as she grows older, her daughter will eventually use the equipment to send e-mails, surf the Internet, send text messages and emails, chat with friends on social networks and more. With the proliferation of communication on social networks like Facebook, it will be crucial for Janika to have access to these mediums to maintain connected with her peers. With the eye tracking assistive technology, this will be entirely possible, allowing Janika to contribute to verbal, written and online communications.
Janika’s story is just one of countless, where individuals with disabilities have overcome barriers to live a more integrated and comfortable life. Assistive technology comes in many forms, the more popular types including items like wheelchairs and hearing devices. While eye tracking and speech technology are not as prevalent yet, with time we can expect to see more awareness and acceptance. As eye tracking technology continues to improve, evolve and become more accessible, the possibilities for innovation and additional uses will grow exponentially.
References
1. United Cerebral Palsy, http://www.ucp.org/ucp_generaldoc.cfm/1/9/37/37-37/447
2. ALS Association, http://http://www.alsa.org/als/facts.cfm?CFID=7679564&CFTOKEN=ec1ec2ee7814b1b3-2F02E1F8-188B-2E62-8053838AC3031A0E
Tara Rudnicki is president of Tobii Assistive Technology, Inc. (Tobii ATI), a market leader and premier developer of innovative eye tracking and speech technology solutions for people with disabilities. Tara joined Tobii ATI nine years ago and was appointed president in 2007.
Tara not only promotes Tobii ATI technology, building its brand and growing the company, but she also serves as a voice for the assistive technology community. She is committed to making sure that people who cannot speak or otherwise communicate can get access to the technology that will open up a whole new world of opportunity. Tara serves on the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Board of Directors, working tirelessly to promote the need for communication.
