Disabled individuals have a great deal to gain from advances in input devices for computers. The eye-tracking input device is perhaps most closely associated with physicist Stephen Hawking who uses it to write scientific papers for review. Using this technology, the user's eye movements are tracked·there are several methods for doing this·and selections are recorded by blinking or some other movement. This technology is already in use and, although far more expensive than a mouse, has good potential (Kaufman, Bandopadhay & Shaviv, n.d.).
The so-called mind switch uses the increase in alpha brainwaves generated when a person closes their eyes to control a device. Designed for the severely disabled, the University of Technology in Sydney has posted impressive statistics, with many subjects able to activate the switch more than 90 percent of the time. This switch has potential for the most severely disabled, but probably not for those individuals able to use other more convenient·and faster·devices (Rice, 2004).
The brain-computer interface·also called the thought translation device·takes the mind switch one step farther so that the actual brain waves associated with thought are translated into cursor movement. Relying on a combination of biofeedback techniques and requiring that electrodes be connected to the scalp, this has extremely limited market potential. Nonetheless, this highly experimental option offers considerable benefit to so-called "locked-in" individuals (Birbaumer et al, 2003).
Birbaumer, Niels, et al. (2003). Brain-computer interface. German Research Society. Retrieved 26 Jan 2005 from < Kaufman, A. E., Bandopadhay, A., & Shaviv, B. D. (n.d.). An Eye tracking computer user interface. Research Frontiers in Virtual Reality Workshop Proceedings, IEEE Computer Society Press, pp. 120 ...