Nonwearable gaze tracking system for controlling home appliance

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional assistive technologies often require wearable components or complex setups.
• Controlling home appliances and navigating environments can be challenging for individuals with mobility impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, nonwearable gaze tracking system for controlling home appliances in a 3D space.
• To enable intuitive control of wheelchairs and home devices through eye movements.

Main Methods:

• A nonwearable system utilizing frontal viewing and eye-tracking cameras was developed.
• The system incorporates three distinct modes: navigation, selection, and manipulation, switchable via eye gestures.
• Wheelchair navigation is controlled by gaze direction, appliance selection by sustained gaze, and appliance manipulation via a displayed control panel.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated high detection accuracy in experimental evaluations.
• The proposed gaze-based control method proved effective for both navigation and appliance manipulation.

Conclusions:

• The novel nonwearable gaze tracking system offers a promising solution for controlling home appliances and navigating 3D environments.
• This technology has the potential to significantly enhance independence and quality of life for users with disabilities.