Clinical and functional evaluation of a gaze controlled system for the severely handicapped

This preliminary study evaluates the suitability of a gaze controlled communication system for severely handicapped patients. The system drives a computer by movements of the patient's pupils. The capacity to communicate by producing text on a screen was assessed in 30 patients, 22 traumatic tetraplegics and 8 patients whose handicaps were due to other causes. The rate at which they learned to use the system, and the speed of their word processing were measured. Those tetraplegics who had used other communication systems found the gaze controlled system tiring, and its lack of other peripherals limiting. But its true application seems to be as the sole available interface for the most severely handicapped who can neither move nor speak. Peripherals and improved calibration systems are presently being developed.