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I'm not sure I quite understand your questions, but maybe this will come close: I do, at times, have problems focusing, even when wearing glasses, mostly due to fatigue. The day I tried out the tracking system, I was seeing OK. I don't believe that inability to focus would make any difference with the eye tracking software, so long as you can make out what's on the screen. The software also includes an automatic magnification feature (can be turned on/off), so that, when you look at something small, a window pops up with the area you just looked at but magnified so that it's easy to then dwell on the item you wanted to pick. Blinking does not cause the software to do anything. There is a "getting used to" period, for sure. The rep told me that they recommend new users to keep to about an hour for the first sessions, as it does get tiring when you're learning the system, and you have to concentrate on your eye movements much more than you would once you're used to it. In fact, you naturally find yourself flitting around the screen so as to not dwell on anything too long and pick something you don't want. The software has a "pause" feature. In "pause" mode, you can stare at the screen or read a text without anything happening. I am surprised that they use a standard keyboard layout for writing text. First, I think that most of the intended audience does not type and, therefore, would not be habituated to the location of letters, 2- the current standard QWERTY layout is not the fastest, even for regular typing, 3- I can easily think of layouts that would dramatically reduce the separation between most common letters and allow much faster word formation. Which reminds me, the software does have a context-sensitive autofill feature that provides three common word choices on the screen just above the keyboard that you can pick from instead of selecting the remaining letters. Roger -----Original Message----- From: Rick McGirr Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2013 3:00 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Difficulties using mouse or track ball - follow up Good news, Roger. Thanks for sharing. Do you have any problems with focusing your eyes, or looking at things in a certain timing and sequence? Do you use blinking to make certain actions? Would anyone happen to know what system Stephen Hawking uses? Rick -----Original Message----- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roger Seymour Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 12:16 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Difficulties using mouse or track ball - follow up Greetings. A while back, there was some discussion about trouble using pointing devices with PCs due to tremors, dyskinesia and stiffness related to PD. I looked around a bit and stumbled upon an eye-tracking system that can be installed on a desktop or laptop PC, made by Tobii. It just so happens that there is a distributor two hours from where I live (Upstate NY), so I arranged for a demonstration one day last week. The primary goal is to give non-verbal people (e.g., multiple handicapped students) a means to communicate. As was pointed out in the discussion threads, not being able to use a pointing device amounts to almost the same thing: it’s almost impossible to use the internet. As was also pointed out in some other threads, voice-recognition software is not always the answer as PWPs’ voices and enunciation can change depending on the day. The system is comprised of a camera unit that attaches to the bottom of your monitor, and software. The cameras “watch” your eyes to see where on the screen you are looking. Once you fix your gaze on a spot for a given amount of time (adjustable), the software “selects” the item you were looking at just as if you had clicked a mouse button. The communication application puts a keyboard on the screen so that you can “write” with your eyes. It supposedly interfaces with resident email applications to allow you to send the text as an email. The basic eye tracking software will allow you to use anything you have on your PC, just as if you were using a mouse or other pointing device. I was impressed by the ease of use and features built into the software. It is reasonably tolerant of normal head movements, and will put a small display on the screen to prompt you to return to the original position, should you stray. It works just fine with glasses (I wear them myself). The seating position was very normal and comfortable. The expected down side is the cost: a typical system for use on a desktop is around $4000. I was told that, if the user is non-verbal, some health plans will pay part or all of the cost. Tobii is not the only manufacturer, but from what I’ve read, they seem to be the best. As this technology has only fairly recently come on to the consumer market, it will likely become more affordable in the next year or two. If interested, you can find out more at TobiiATI.com, including where the nearest distributor might be. BTW: I have no interest, economic or otherwise, in Tobii or anyone else associated with these systems. I just like cool stuff, especially if it can help people. Roger Seymour ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn