Computers have become such a ubiquitous part of our lives today that it's hard to imagine how we ever lived without them. And yet there are many for whom the use of a computer is a struggle and in some cases entirely out of reach, due to physical disability. This is what the EyeGuide™ Assist from
Grinbath is designed to remedy.
In a nutshell, the EyeGuide™ Assist is an adjustable headset device that allows users to control their computers using the movement and blinking of their eyes. The device tracks the motion of the eye, and moves the cursor to the desired location. The user can then blink or dwell on an icon or link to interact with it. In essence, it turns the user's eye into a mouse. There is also a voice command function for those who can or choose to use, giving the EyeGuide Assist greater versatility and functionality.
There are two modes: calibrated, which takes some time to set up, and uncalibrated. The uncalibrated mode gives the user the option to leave a session or look away and then come back, without having to recalibrate the system. All that's needed to start up again is to re-activate the device.
The EyeGuide™ Assist headset is sturdy and adjusts so that it can even be used by children. It is powered by three regular AAA batteries, so no additional power source is needed, allowing for complete portability. In addition, the EyeGuide Assist isn't affected by external lighting conditions, working equally well in both bright light and a darkened room.
The headset comes complete with the necessary software, which is usable on both Mac and PC, so there are no operating system concerns. The software is unobtrusive, working behind the scenes. You might not even know that it's running save for the small and movable menu bar.
While the technology behind the EyeGuide™ Assist may be complicated, it is reasonably simple to use with appropriate training, which EyeGuide™ provides through the accompanying EyeGuide™ training video, webinars and EyeGuide™ CE training. Users are also encouraged to pass back their experiences with the EyeGuide™ Assist to the manufacturer, so that there is a feedback loop for continuous improvements to the device. And at least at the writing of this article, updated versions of the software will be distributed to users free of charge.
For those who struggle with even the simplest of computer-related tasks such as navigating a drop down menu or clicking a mouse button, the EyeGuide Assist can open a whole new world, ending isolation and bringing all people into the exciting and inter-connected world of the twenty-first century.
Nancy Sampson-Bach,
and
Hulet Smith, OT
