Use of saccadic latency for visual inspection system

Abstract

In some industrial inspection processes, multiprocess-handling workers are required to enter the results of visual inspection tests without using their hands because of efficiency or hygiene reasons. We have developed a hands-free visual inspection system by using saccadic latency, a temporal characteristic of saccadic eye movements. The proposed system is free from the Midas touch problem (i.e., the difficulty in developing an eye-typing interface owing to the difficulty in differentiating between intentional blinks and gazes and natural ones). For verifying the system, an experiment was conducted in which ten subjects performed a visual inspection task. The average defect detection rates were 99.4%, and no Midas touch–related errors were observed. Results of the error analysis showed that redesigning the system interface would lead to a further enhancement of the system performance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.