An Input Interface for Disabled and Elderly People Using a Laser Pointer Controlled by Eye Gazing

Abstract

We have studied an interface system for disabled and elderly people to control advanced equipments such as an assisting mainpulator. In our study, a laser pointer controlled by eye gazing is introduced as pointing device in real space. Since a computer screen is not familiar to elderly people, direct pointing to the interiors in his/her own room is considered as great benefit.We attached an eye gaze measurement device and also a laser pointer to the goggle worn by the user. Because of this design, our system can be used in any direction of the head and anywhere in the room, unlike other eye-gaze interface.In our prototype, eye gazing is measured by limbus boundary method. As the laser pointer, a laser diode is controlled by a differential gearing using two pulse motors. In the preliminary experiment, displacement of the laser spot was measured when the subjects were gazing the target point in the distance of 2m. 80% of the measured points were within 30cm from the target. This large distribution was caused by the lack of stability of measurement method. The eye gaze measurement must be improved for the practical use of our laser pointer driven by eye gazing.