Whilst certainly one for the mainstream's future, Eye-control for many is very much a thing of now. With it's potential to act as an 'extra hand' or a more 'intuitive' navigation input for the average gamer, for others it can be the only way for them to access a computer and play games.
Many forms of disability, injury or illness can leave users unable to use what is seen to be the standard input method for a computer such as gamepads, mice and keyboards. Eye-Gaze can offer an easier, or often the only, way for someone to interact independently with a computer and, consequently, play games.
Avid gamer Alex Kostov who has SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) states, “Ever since I lost the ability to use a real mouse, I've struggled to cope with certain tasks and things on the computer which I was previously able to do with minimal effort. Since then I've been dreaming about all sorts of things to help me control the computer, from using my eyes to move the mouse to being able to type using my mind! I never really thought I would get the opportunity to actually try one, but now that I have, I literally cannot see myself wanting to go back to using just voice recognition to operate my computer. It has opened so many windows for me and just made using certain things on the computer a lot more enjoyable and convenient.”
One of those things is playing games, “I've started playing things like 9 Empires, Football Manager 2011 and other small browser games which I normally would find exceptionally difficult and tedious to control using voice recognition.”
Alex using Eye-Gaze
Increasingly, eye-gaze technology is opening up the opportunities for communication, freedom and fun access to computers can offer for those without access in the standard ways, however the high price which goes with the relatively low volume production acts as a barrier to many. Perhaps, this is where applications in the mainstream market could help to bring the prices down, controlling your visual navigation in COD perhaps or even interacting with your iPad. Alex Kostov comments, “ Prices would need to drastically drop if it were to become a commercially available item in the mainstream as most people can't even afford it without seeking assistance from charities and other organisations.”
One thing is certain though, eye-gaze will continue to gather pace at giving access to those whom it was previously difficult or impossible, to communicate, explore and have fun using computers.
One thing is certain though, eye-gaze will continue to gather pace at giving access to those whom it was previously difficult or impossible, to communicate, explore and have fun using computers.
SpecialEffect lends and supports eye-gaze computers to people, such as Alex, through their StarGaze and Loan Library Projects. For more information visit www.specialeffect.org.uk
