The eye wink control interface: using the computer to provide the severely disabled with increased flexibility and comfort

The eye wink control interface was designed to enable severely handicapped individuals to control mechanical devices by using eye winks of varying duration without having their head motion or speech restricted. The advantages of this computer-based system are (1) an unobtrusive and inexpensive control device, (2) increased comfort for the user, and (3) an increase in the number and complexity of possible commands available to the user. The design of the infrared eye wink detector and the computerized signal interpreter, as well as the initial results obtained in testing the interface with simulation software are discussed. Plans for extensions to this research are also discussed