Cal Knowles

Device that helps those with limiting physical, cognitive, and/or speaking disabilities to communicate and perform other tasks

Can access the internet, turn text to speech, play games, control computers, and even other tasks like turning on/off lights

Basic versions include a monitor and camera to track the users eye movement and relay the information of the user’s selection

Almost all versions include speech synthesis, keyboards, and special programs to change settings as well teach the user

The Eyegaze Edge is commonly used by those with cerebral palsy, a spinal cord injury, brain injury, ALS, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and many other disorders

Users must have good control of their eyes, as well as their head

The user simply stares at a rectangular button on the screen that has an option written on it

Most are set up so that it takes less than a second for an option to be selected, however this time can be changed by the user

The calibration process takes less than a minute

Uses Eyegaze Edge to communicate in the classroom

Uses the Eyegaze Edge system to write letters and books

The system doesn’t work in sunlight since it uses infrared light to analyze where the user is looking

Price ranges from 8000 to 12000 dollars

Those with poor eye and control are unable to use the system

The study took 10 girls with Rett syndrome aging from 4 years old to 13 to see how efficiently they could follow orders and see if they were carried out by the Eyegaze Edge

All the girls did relatively well and the results proved to be accurate enough to be efficient in the majority of the cases

Concepts of Color, Shape, Size and Position in Ten Children with Rett Syndrome (2009). Web. 24 Apr. 2010.

http://www.eyegaze.com/