eyeBlink - enabling natural two way conversation with somebody who uses an eyetracker
Last updated: Jan 24, 2023
It can be difficult to tell when a student who uses an eye tracker to operate their communications software is actively using the software. So the temptation is to go and look over their shoulder. The Head Technologist at Beaumont College asked if it is possible to have a light flash to indicate when the communications software is being used. This makes for a more natural two way conversation. You talk to the student and you see the light flashing, so you know that a reply is being composed.
After some false starts, I think I have some code that will detect when the software is being used. My script makes an image of the screen each second and looks for a difference. I set a minimum threshold for the difference between the images so that a blinking cursor will not continuously indicate a change.
I use a BBC micro:bit to do the flashing as they are cheap, cheerful and reliable. I reckon to have two of these qualities.
Please find a picture of Craig, one of the technologists at Beaumont, testing the prototype of the eyeBlink system using a Tobii eyetracker and Sensory Software’s Grid 2 software. You will have to take my word for it that the microbit does indeed flash when the Grid 2 is being used.
