With Tobii Eye Gaze AAC Assistive Technology, Tess L. was able to communicate verbally.
A schoolgirl with cerebral palsy, Tess L. is unable to communicate orally. “I cannot speak, but I understand everything you say.” However, now Tess can communicate verbally, thanks to Tobii, a Swedish device that interfaces with a computer that generates speech. Tobii tracks the movement of the eyes as one would use a mouse. Tess now has the ability to express her needs, wants, and thoughts. Tobii does much more than earlier devices such as buttons and switches. Tess can initiate information rather than merely respond, using a yes/no system. One day, her sister, Mia, came home from school very upset. Tess used the Tobii to ask for her sister. When her mom came and got Mia, Tess used her device to say, “I’m proud of you.” Tess finally got to be the big sister. Her Tobii eye-gaze device, says her mom, Lynn, is “a game changer.”
Tobii Eye Gaze Devices
Ulrich uses an earlier version of the Tobii eye tracker. Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Tobii is a pioneering and leading Swedish designer and manufacturer of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices, most notably the Dynavox line. We discussed how a Tobii Dynavox opened up the world for Dave F., a young man with multiple physical disabilities, enabling him to both communicate and share his lifelong passion of golf.
It is, therefore, logical that Tobii would be involved with eye-tracking and eye-control, technologies that involve a sensor that can detect the user’s eye movements. When paired with speech-generating devices, the combination is a highly effective means of communication for individuals with physical disabilities that do not allow them use of their hands or fingers. PCye Plus and PCEye Mini work with Windows-based desktop and laptop computers, respectively. For users needing mobile solutions, EyeMobile Plus and EyeMobile Mini work on tablet computers. Tobii also offers its eye-gaze technology built into two of its Dynavox AAC devices, the Dynavox I-15+ and I-12+, both built with the needs of individuals with cerebral palsy, Rett syndrome, ALS, and aphasia in mind. Finally, Tobii offers EyeR, an infrared remote switch and software combination that enables the user to use eye-gaze to turn appliances on and off.
Indeed, Tobii eye-gaze technologies were featured at our January 19 professional workshop!
And Another Solution…
Another of our clients, Tess C., uses different piece of tracking equipment, NuEye, to access her AAC device, the Accent 1400. Unlike Tobii eye gaze, which records movements of the eyes, NuEye is dependent on the movement of a reflective dot the she wears on her forehead. Optical sensors near the Accent 1400 follow the dot, which acts as a mouse.
With her Accent 1400 communication device, Tess C. is able to do the everyday tasks independently.
Tess L. uses eye-gaze AAC technology to communicate with her parents and in school.
Tobii Eye Gaze AAC Assistive Tech
