Television Operation with a Simple Gaze 2009/08/21 The research group led by Professor Yutaka Tomita of Keio University has developed a technology that allows a person to operate electrical equipment by simply gazing at a blinking light source, without using hands. This technology is promising for application to make appliances easier to use by people with physical disabilities.

Technologies have previously been developed to operate electrical equipment without the use of the hands by attaching sensors to the cheeks or eyelids. Problems with these systems included the time they required, since the sensor systems operated a roulette-like apparatus. The system developed by Professor Tomita requires gazing for only about three seconds to perform the desired function.

With the new system, moreover, the function to be manipulated can be changed by simply changing the corresponding light source. The system can be applied broadly, from ordinary household appliances to equipment for people with physical disabilities, including electric-powered beds and emergency call devices. In addition, since light sources can be differentiated if separated by just 2 centimeters, it may be possible to develop a "gaze only " input device by assigning light sources to the individual keys of a keyboard.

This technology was developed for users who have normal eyesight, however, and it would be difficult for people with weak vision to use. A number of problems also need to be overcome before it can lead to practical applications. One is discrimination accuracy. The electric signals generated by various blinking light sources are not that different, and they could also be affected by noise from external lighting. The "accuracy rate " of the control system for three-second gazes is currently 80%. The research team hopes to raise this to 90% with gazes of just one second.

Great skill is also needed to properly position the electrodes on the occipital skull, so a sensor device that is easier to handle, such as one that can be incorporated into the temples of eyeglasses or hooked on the ears, will need to be developed. Professor Tomita’s group has developed various other rehabilitation devices, and group member Jun’ichi Ushiba says that efforts are continuing to develop devices that are useful to people with physical disabilities. (Keiichi Maeda)