Evaluation of an eye-pointer interaction device for human-computer interaction.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Assistive Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Eye-tracking technology has advanced, enabling new forms of non-physical computer control.
• Current human-computer interaction (HCI) methods often rely on physical input devices.
• There is a need for alternative input methods, especially for accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt a commercial eye-tracker as an alternative peripheral device for HCI.
• To evaluate the usability and precision of an eye-controlled pointer system.
• To compare the performance of the eye-tracker prototype against a traditional mouse.

Main Methods:

• A commercial eye-tracker was modified to function as a computer input device.
• A pointer controlled by eye movements was implemented for screen interaction.
• Thirty participants tested the prototype using educational video games.

Main Results:

• The eye-tracker prototype demonstrated empirical precision similar to a mouse for movement and clicking.
• Most participants expressed a preference for using a mouse over the eye-controlled pointer.
• The study provides quantitative data on the precision of eye-based control.

Conclusions:

• Eye-tracking technology can be effectively repurposed for HCI, offering comparable precision to mice.
• While user preference may lean towards traditional methods, eye-tracking presents a functional alternative.
• Further development could enhance user acceptance and expand applications of eye-controlled systems.