'ERICA' - Eye Gaze for Mac available
Posted by Katilea - 03/25/09, 08:03 am
QED (Quality Enabling Devices) Ltd now offer an Eye-gaze Computer on a Macintosh System which is shipped with the latest iMac computer.
They also offer an ‘add-on’ which may be installed on your own existing Windows PC or Mac.
I sent an email to them and below are the details that I received back about
ERICA for Mac 'add-on'.
Answers provided by Andy Yardley of QED Ltd.
“The Lifemate software is loaded onto the desktop of a PC or Mac and, as with any other add-on software, is accessed through a 'shortcut' - once Lifemate is running mouse cursor movement can be controlled through eye or head movement. The camera emits InfraRed and tracks the reflection of the retina – It also focuses a ‘glint point’ on the front of the eye and calculates the movement of the eye from the two readings - This is then translated into cursor positioning on the screen – the camera is positioned, using a mounting arm, so that it is aligned with the retina and the screen, giving the user control of the computer as though using a mouse.
The price of Lifemate software and camera with mounting is currently under review due to currency fluctuations (The product is imported from the USA) - It is likely to be around £6,500 - Lifemate works with any other software loaded on the computer”
(So if you live in US this system is already out and available to buy)
I asked if it would work with Macbooks as the camera was only shown on site mounted to a Desktop style monitor.
His reply was:
“We have found camera positioning can be an issue on laptops/Macbooks - Although the camera does not have to be below the screen the nature of the screen (with hinges) on a laptop/Macbook means that it can move independently to the camera and can cause problems with accuracy.”
You can find video of Erica In action (shown on Windows systems) at www.eyeresponse.com, they will also later feature video of the new software (Lifemate3) at this site.
They also offer an ‘add-on’ which may be installed on your own existing Windows PC or Mac.
I sent an email to them and below are the details that I received back about
ERICA for Mac 'add-on'.
Answers provided by Andy Yardley of QED Ltd.
“The Lifemate software is loaded onto the desktop of a PC or Mac and, as with any other add-on software, is accessed through a 'shortcut' - once Lifemate is running mouse cursor movement can be controlled through eye or head movement. The camera emits InfraRed and tracks the reflection of the retina – It also focuses a ‘glint point’ on the front of the eye and calculates the movement of the eye from the two readings - This is then translated into cursor positioning on the screen – the camera is positioned, using a mounting arm, so that it is aligned with the retina and the screen, giving the user control of the computer as though using a mouse.
The price of Lifemate software and camera with mounting is currently under review due to currency fluctuations (The product is imported from the USA) - It is likely to be around £6,500 - Lifemate works with any other software loaded on the computer”
(So if you live in US this system is already out and available to buy)
I asked if it would work with Macbooks as the camera was only shown on site mounted to a Desktop style monitor.
His reply was:
“We have found camera positioning can be an issue on laptops/Macbooks - Although the camera does not have to be below the screen the nature of the screen (with hinges) on a laptop/Macbook means that it can move independently to the camera and can cause problems with accuracy.”
You can find video of Erica In action (shown on Windows systems) at www.eyeresponse.com, they will also later feature video of the new software (Lifemate3) at this site.
