accessing mac with eye gaze

[Katilea]

Hi

I have progressive condition which means I am unable to type. I'm a Mac Fan and currently managing with an oversized joystick to access on-screen keyboards/word prediction (Keystrokes by Assistiveware)

I have looked into eye gaze camera's there is one that can be connected to a computer via USB but needs windows to run. (Alea Intelligaze)

My question is if I add windows to my beloved iMac, and run it with parallel desktop' so mac OS runs at same time the camera then should work to move mouse cursor regardless of what is on screen?

so for example could I keep windows minimised (just running in background for camera software) but still be able to work within OS X to surf, email using current keystrokes on-screen keyboards, access iMovie, iTunes etc?

Thanks

Kati

 

[BlueRevolution]

I'm afraid not. However, depending how the app works, you might be able to connect the virtual machine to your Mac with Synergy. When the program is used, does it move the cursor to wherever you're looking, or does it just direct the motion of your cursor like your joystick does?

 

[Katilea]

Hi yes, on the actual program when eye gaze is running in windows you just look at the key you want to type or the prediction that holds your word/sentence in the communication part. (so it will speak for you) I think it comes with 'The Grid2' which is programmed to work with access methods such as eye gaze. I know on the start up screen you just look at the icon you want to open its program

However for accessing the internet i think the on-screen panel (on 'The grid2' includes buttons like 'scroll up' 'scroll down', so it may have buttons with arrows on that you had to look at to control the direction of the cursor for some programs

Both the Modbook and the iMac have built-in bluetooth right? So even if i booted up in windows only mode on modbook to access the camera and software... if i connected to my 24" iMac screen via bluetooth surely the Modbook would then just become like a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to enter text instead of typing on apple keyboard and mouse?

Would it possibly work that way?

A guy has offered to come and demo one of the new Tobii communication aids with eye gaze, these also have an optional bluetooth to allow you to send text messages via your mobile, I'm thinking of leaving bluetooth on Mac also to see if Tobii detects it and can connect to it.

It may give me a better idea of how it might work but at £15,000 they are way out of my budget so trying to create my own cheaper alternative that allows me to still use my beloved Mac for computing!

Kati

 

[BlueRevolution]

I really don't think this is possible. Unfortunately, while OS X has some nice accessibility options like screen readers and zoom and so forth, it doesn't play so nicely with assistive devices, which are normally (as you've found) Windows-only. So I'm afraid you'll have to choose between switching to Windows or making do with your joystick.

I don't know anything about the nature of your disability, but if your speech isn't impaired, you could look into speech recognition. It can be stodgy at times, though; I'm fairly articulate but I have a tendency to mumble, so I have to pay attention to how well I speak. It's not a substitute for mousing, but it can replace most of the onscreen keyboard use and automate some common actions.

 

[Katilea]

I know, it seems unfair. I'm surprised though as I originally switched from windows desktop to iMac cos the keyboard was better spaced and I like the keystrokes program better than the windows equivalent.

There is a 'camera mouse' program for windows that allows you to use a regular webcam to track your eye movements and one called Gaze Talk with a much more simplified keyboard and larger icons which is also open source, its a shame no-one has though of doing this for Mac to make use of iSight Camera.

I did try iNavigate and origin Headmouse, but I had a lot of problems trying to get cursor just from one end to other in big movements so trying to use an on-screen qwerty keyboard with it was impossible.

I have motor co-ordination difficulties affecting voluntary movements, my eye muscles are one of the few left not affected by it and yes, my speech is also affected quite severely. I doubt a computer would understand me, my family struggle sometimes and they known me all my life!

Looks like I might have to learn to scan and switch to Switch XS which is also made by Assistiveware if I want to keep my Mac, but I'll see how the Tobii demo goes first.

Thanks anyway

Kati

 

[geardley]

LC Edge

Hi Kati,

The only eyegaze system I know of that will work with your Mac is the LC Edge:

http://www.eyegaze.com/content/assistive-technology#enviroment

It will not allow you as much head movement as the Alea or CEye but it will work with the Mac.

I work for Smartbox AT we do supply the LC Edge, but we will not support it on a Mac machine, as our software The Grid 2 does not run on a Mac. For support you would have to talk to LC Technologies, Inc in America direct. info0309@eyegaze.com

I hope this helps. The only other eyegaze system I could find that would work with a Mac was the Erica system, but unfortunately production of this product has been stopped.

Kindest Regards

Gemma Eardley
Assistive Technology Engineer

 

[Katilea]

Hi

So I could add windows to my iMac so it could be used with THE GRID, say for doing longer posts? (as I now have my own blog site now)

And it would still work when booted up in Mac mode also if I was doing something like say editing a movie in iMovie?

Would it work with the newer windows7 or only XP?

I couldn't find a picture on that page but I thought that was the one where you had two screens and looked at one to control what was happening on the other (like I was gonna try on the Tobii). I thought it would be quite difficult looking between two different screens all the time though.

How much would it be to add to my own iMac if I put windows on it to support The Grid software?

Would the grid software be included in the price?

Thanks

Kati