Many people will know of the world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking: with his eyes, he controls a PC even arranges his speech. There is now open-source software to other ALS patients to control a computer with their eyes.
It is made by a British developer. Because the software is open source, anyone can contribute. The program is called OptiKey and still works only with Windows computers. The software is controlled by a device that accurately tracks your eyes. Which are currently already available for a few hundred euros, and in the coming years also increasingly integrated into laptops.
How does OptiKey?
OptiKey shows a screen and pointer on the keyboard where the user can watch. By half seconds to look at a letter on the screen, it is selected. In this way, a patient can still ALS-typing without the use of his hands. Even if the nerve disease has affected many muscles, the eyes remain with the most still intact.
The mouse pointer will be used by means of a bar at the top of the screen. Here are several actions, such as left and right mouse click. The user looks at the action he wants to perform and then look at the part where the action should be taken. For example, this offers the opportunity to access a program or close it. OptiKey can also read written words.
In three years,
Developer Julius Sweetland worked about three years in the software. The aunt of Sweetland deceased from ALS, and he thinks that the PC solutions for ALS patients are too expensive or too bad. He therefore decided to develop OptiKey.
Sweetland stressed that he always wants to offer free software. He also asked developers and translators to work on the project. People who want to donate money, are asked to make their donation to a charity over as ALS Foundation.
RTL Z / Daniel Verlaan
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