Design recommendations for voluntary blink interactions based on pressure sensors

Abstract

Voluntary blink control is vital in eye-controlled human–computer interaction (ECHCI). Pressure sensors, known for their low power consumption and strong resistance to interference, are suitable for blink detection. Existing research has predominantly focused on sensor materials and signal processing, and studies on the characteristics and optimized design of voluntary blink actions in ECHCI remain relatively limited. Therefore, this study presents a blink detection system based on pressure sensors and investigates the efficiency of voluntary blink actions. We examined the effects of two independent variables, blink count (single, double, and triple) and blink side (bilateral and unilateral), on recognition accuracy and three time-related variables. Subsequently, the subjective workload and evaluation experiments were conducted for each blink action. The results indicate that the blink count has a more pronounced impact on interaction efficiency and comfort, with continuous blink actions exceeding three blinks not being recommended. Bilateral blinks were perceived as more natural and comfortable than unilateral blinks. Moreover, we discovered that the participants exhibited greater attentiveness and focus when performing double bilateral blink actions, making it suitable for important commands. Based on the experimental results, the top three recommended voluntary blink actions are single bilateral blink (SB), double bilateral blink (DB), and single unilateral blink (SU). Finally, a test involving controlling the movement of a toy car using the recommended blink actions validates the usability of the actions and detection system. These findings provide valuable guidance for the design and optimization of voluntary-blink interaction systems, further enhancing this interaction method’s feasibility.