Gaze interaction for people with ALS

People with the severe disability Amytrofic Lateral Slerosis (ALS) are only able to move their eyes. They have full cognitive functions but cannot communicate or use an ordinary computer. Commercial systems that can be used for gaze interaction with computers are very costly - more than 100,000 DKK. The IT University of Copenhagen has developed a low cost gaze communication system in close collaboration with The Royal School of Library and Information Science, Copenhagen, and Tokyo Institute of Technology. The system is available in Danish, Japanese and English language versions.

The purpose of the project is to conduct field test of this new free-ware gaze tracking system that can be used with a standard web-camera and with a video projector. Field trials will be done with both Danish and Japanese ALS patients at home or at hospitals.

At present, communication with ALS patients is often limited to inefficient “yes/no” signalling (e.g. with eye blinks or eyes up or eyes down etc.) if there is any communication at all. The proposed communication platform will enable the otherwise locked-in patients to communicate, and possibly at speeds as fast as 10 words per minute.

Reliable and efficient communication between the medical staff, caretakers and the patient can improve patient safety during intensive care, examination and medical treatment as well as the patients’ overall quality of life.