Controlling applications using eye gaze is common amongst individuals with language disabilities and mobility challenges who often require assistive technology for communication. When using a vision-based eye gaze tracker, the user’s point of gaze on a computer screen is continuously tracked by processing a series of images of the human eye, however this technology is known to be computationally demanding, expensive and sensitive to lighting conditions.
A team of engineers at the Faculty of Engineering who work on biomedical signal processing have been for the past years investigating electrooculography (EOG) as an alternative technology for eye gaze tracking. In this case, a set of electrodes are placed around the user’s eyes to capture the electrical activity generated during eye movements.
The recorded data is then processed in real time for continuous point of gaze estimation. The research team, made up of Professor Kenneth Camilleri, Dr Tracey Camilleri, and Research Support Officers Mr Nathaniel Barbara and Mr Matthew Mifsud, have been developing state-of-the-art algorithms for EOG-based point of gaze estimation and is now working on ensuring a robust performance even during natural head movements.
This work has led to EyeCon, an MCST funded project under the Fusion R&I Technology Development Programme, which is being done in collaboration with 88.eu. The project aims at developing an EOG-based communication system for individuals who can’t use standard mice, keyboards or touch screens as a control interface. At the moment the team is carrying out focus group meetings and interviews with occupational and speech therapists to better understand the requirements of such individuals and is now looking for actual users of vision-based eye gaze trackers to gain more insight on the advantages and limitations of currently available commercial systems. We would like to encourage anyone who is in contact with any users of such systems and who would be willing to share their experience with us, to contact the project coordinator, Dr Tracey Camilleri.
Anyone wishing to follow the project’s progress is also invited to visit our Facebook page.
