Samsung Develops Eye Operated Mouse

ionbasa · November 26, 2014

Samsung has unveiled a new version of its so-called EyeCan+ eye mouse, a device that enables people with disabilities to use computers through eye movements.

Eye-controlled computers have been around for a while. Especially targeted to those with disabilities who can't use a keyboard or mouse, they often are dedicated devices or technologies that require users to wear glasses or other special equipment. In a blog post Tuesday, the company called the Eyecan+ the first of its kind because it doesn't require people to wear any such equipment. The EyeCan+ is a simple portable box positioned below your monitor.

http://www.cnet.com/news/samsungs-eyecan-lets-your-eyes-control-your-computer/

and:

The project, called EYECAN+, uses a sensor mounted below a computer monitor to read a user’s eye movements, with a blink of the eye used to register a click of the mouse to either copy, paste, select all, zoom in or activate another of 18 basic computer functions.
If this all sounds familiar, that may be because the company had previously piloted a commercial version of this technology with the Galaxy S4 smartphone.

The technology, called Smart Scroll, purported to allow a user to scroll down a page of text on his or her smartphone, simply by moving his or her eyes.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/samsung-takes-eye-scrolling-technology-to-disabled-community/story-fnay3ubk-1227135139984?nk=b1cb1237f76e02d4a1d80b0edb66d90a

Ok, so the title of this post was a little weird, but couldn't think of anything else to call this thread. It uses the same technology that is used by the Galaxy line of phones to allow users to scroll with their own eyes, but instead has been improved upon, and allows users mouse like capabilities with only using their eyes. The immediate applications seems to be useful for disabled people to use computers and allow basic functionality. The eye tracking mouse works via the use of a camera and software to track a user's eye movement and where the user is focusing on in relation to the screen. The device does need to be calibrated for individual use.

Personally, I think this is awesome, it is nice to see samsung doing some good for all people, and helping improve the quality of life for those computer users who are disabled and may not be able to operate a computer via normal means (mouse and keyboard). I can't wait to see where this technology goes, and am eager to see it adapt to the consumer market, after all it would be cool to navigate through a video game in VR by eye tracking (what I want). Overall, this can only help increase the numerous ways we can interface with our computers, and the possibilities seem endless.

Enderman · November 26, 2014

The only reason it works is because they are using a paralized person in a bed and so their head does not move.

If you move your head then it needs to be recalibrated. That would be a pain for any normal person to have to keep their head perfectly still all the time.