Replacing Touching - Using Camera Tracking

of Eye and Head Movements

Introduction

Eye-tracking and head-tracking technology are two input technology are closely related to each other and provide a powerful way for users to communicate with their computers, especially for users with paralysis and aphasia, who may often find it is very hard to communicate with a computer without using limbs.

This ADE will provide you with a quick introduction to head-tracking and eye -racking techniques.

In this ADE your goal will be to navigate a user interface or a web page and perform some required tasks by using each of head tracking and an eye tracking software.

At the end of this ADE, you will have experienced some of the difficulties of navigating user interface and performing tasks with head tracking s, and be able to discuss the impact of using eye-tracking and head-tracking as primary modalities in navigation and performing tasks.

Note: This ADE is intended to be completed using Windows.

Head-Tracking

Head-Tracking makes use of a location (or locations) on your head as a source of inputs.You can choose the location that works best for you. Head-tracking is only usable by persons who have controllable mobility in their neck.

What to do

1.     Please view the video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-y-7Cvm0k4. This video briefly demonstrates the application, ‘Camera Mouse’, which will be used for head tracking in this ADE. This demo shows how you can use Camera Mouse step by step. You can get the camera to focus on a feature on your face and then by moving your head control the mouse. Hovering over the link you wish to select for few seconds can make selections. 

NOTE: Camera Mouse has trouble using your eye when you are wearing glasses, so you might want to use some other feature on your face.

2.    Download and Installation (Note: This software requires windows system platform, it works with standard features of typical laptops or desktop computers, and does not require special hardware or other software support). Download  and install The Camera Mouse program from: http://www.cameramouse.org/downloads.html.  Follow the instructions from the first video to set the settings.

3.     Using Head tracking software: Now, double click “Camera Mouse” icon to open Camera Mouse program, and perform following activities.

A.    Configuration. Click on Settings, then check the “Click” checkbox, and Set Radius to be normal, and set Dwell to be 3 sec. Also check the “Enable Double Clicking” checkbox to allow double clicking. As soon as Enable Double-Clicking is checked, a 2-click button will appear in the main Camera Mouse window, click ok and close the settings window.

B.    Calibration. Look at screen and click on one feature on your face to start track (suggest using one eye of two eyes). After selection is down, slowly move your head for few seconds and then you will see the mouse moves on the screen corresponds to your head movement.

C.   Navigation task. Control your mouse by using head, move mouse over the link: http://www.usask.ca/  and hover over that icon for 1 second to open this link in your default web browser, now use your head mouse to check what undergraduate programs are in University of Saskatchewan, and how many programs are currently in the Kinesiology college. After you have the answer, hover over the exit icon on your web browser to close it.

D.    Close the Program. After you have finished all above tasks, go back to the Camera Mouse main window and press control key to stop head tracking and then close the Camera Mouse Program. Then you can close all the programs.

Eye-tracking

Eye-tracking tends to be much more precise and powerful than the head-tracking. It can be used on a much wider range of users, since it only requires some mobility in a single eye of a user.

What to do

1. Please view the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mBlgcnqttg. This video demonstrates how Windows 10 is providing eye-tracking support. Pay attention to the increased functionality you see demonstrated in this video.
2. Unfortunately in order to use Windows 10's eye-tracking you need a special camera. So we will not actually use it. The free eye-tracking software we used to make use of is no longer available and we have not found a suitable replacement.

What to hand in 

  1. How many colleges offer direct-entry programs in University Of Saskatchewan and what are their names?
  2. How many programs are currently offered by Kinesiology College and what are their names?
  3. How did answering questions 1 and 2 using head-tracking compare to using an on-screen keyboard with a regular mouse?
  4. Compared with the keyboard and mouse input, do you feel that head-tracking and eye-tracking are good/fast method of input? Why or why not?
  5. Give three (3) different situations where you feel head tracking and eye tracking programs would be useful.

Feedback

1.     What were your expectations of this ADE?

2.     Did this ADE meet your expectations? Provide a rating between 1 and 7, where 1 means not at all, 4 means somewhat, and 7 means absolutely. Please explain your choice.

3.     Did you feel that the video(s) for this ADE was appropriate? Why or why not? Provide a rating between 1 and 7, where 1 means not at all, 4 means somewhat, and 7 means absolutely. Please explain your choice.

4.     Do you have any suggestions for other possible videos?

5.     Did you feel that the questions above got you to think about the real and serious issues regarding this ADE? Provide a rating between 1 and 7, where 1 means not at all, 4 means somewhat, and 7 means absolutely. Please explain your choice.

6.     If you have any suggestions on how to improve this ADE, please include it here.

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Acknowledgments: Created by Yichen Dang. Modified by Jim Carter.
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