SEOUL: Now the disabled people can use computer as one of the biggest IT companies, Samsung, has unveiled a new eye-tracking gadget that can replace a mouse and keyboard.
Called EyeCan+, the portable box allows disabled people to write documents or browse the internet by blinking and moving their eyes.
Samsung has made the design free and hopes people will develop low costs versions – although the electronics giant will not make one itself. The device works by wirelessly calibrating with the user’s eye as long as they sit or lie between 23 inches (60cm) and 27 inches (70cm) away from the monitor. EyeCan+ only needs to be set up when a person uses it for the first time and remembers individuals’ eye characteristics.
The gadget was developed by Samsung engineers in their spare time, with help from quadriplegic grad student Hyung-Jin Shin. By using the system for 17 months, the team were able to refine the tracking system – a number of which will be built for charities.
The technology is open source so that anyone can commercialise it. ‘EYECAN+ is the result of a voluntary project initiated by our engineers, and reflects their passion and commitment to engage more people in our community,’ said SiJeong Cho of Samsung.
Samsung Electronics introduced EYECAN+, the company’s second-generation eye mouse that allows people with disabilities to compose and edit documents as well as browse the web through simple eye movement.
‘EYECAN+ is the first of its kind, as it does not require users to wear any device, such as glasses,” Samsung said. ‘Instead, EYECAN+ is a single-unit, portable box that sits below the monitor, and works by wirelessly calibrating with the user’s eye.’
