LINE-OF-GAZE SENSOR FOR A COMMUNICATION/ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PERSONS HAVING MENTAL RETARDATION

KOSTRABA ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES IS PROPOSING TO INITIATE A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WHICH WILL PROVIDE INTERACTIVE EYEGAZE TECHNOLOGY FOR USE BY PERSONS HAVING MENTAL RETARDATION AND OTHER DISABILITIES. THIS TECHNOLOGY ENABLES THESE PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE AND CONTROL THEIR ENVIRONMENT ENTIRELY BY EYE GAZE USING A COMPUTER SYSTEM WHICH HAS THE ABILITY TO SENSE THEIR LINE-OF-SIGHT. PREVIOUS RESEARCH HAS PROVIDED MEANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EYEGLASS FRAME MOUNTED LINE-OF-SIGHT SENSOR BASED COMMUNICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE MENTAL RETARDATION WILL REFUSE TO WEAR ANY SUCH DEVICE, HOWEVER UNOBTRUSIVE OR NORMAL IN APPEARANCE IT MAY BE. THERE IS NO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY WHICH CAN PROVIDE AN ENTIRELY NON-INVASIVE LINE-OF-SIGHT SENSOR FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION. THERE IS NEED FOR A COMMUNICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH MAY EMPLOY EITHER OF TWO POSSIBLE LINE-OF-GAZE SENSORS, AN EYEGLASS FRAME MOUNTED DEVICE OR AN ENTIRELY NON-INVASIVE DEVICE. THE EYEGLASS FRAME MOUNTED SENSOR PROVIDES THE BENEFIT OF A LOW COST, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESILIENT SYSTEM WHICH CAN BE USED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFICIENT COGNITIVE UNDERSTANDING TO ALLOW THE FACIAL PHYSICAL CONTACT OF A PAIR OF EYEGLASSES. THE ALTERNATE SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT CONTACT THE USER MAY BE NECESSARILY MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT WILL PROVIDE A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL WHERE NO OTHER METHODS ARE EFFECTIVE. THE REALIZATION OF THE EYE CONTROLLED SYSTEM WITH TWO SEPARATE LINE-OF-GAZE SENSORS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE EFFORTS OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSED HEREIN, AND THE SEPARATE, CONCURRENT EFFORT TO PRODUCE THE EYEGLASS FRAME MOUNTED SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM.