F/OSS, DIY Eye-Tracking Glasses for People with Paralysis
Parijata D. Mackey
do with the project, but it looks awesome -- check it out:
The EyeWriter Project: http://www.refresheverything.com/eyewriter
The EyeWriter project is a collaborative effort using creativity and
technology to empower people who suffer from paralysis. The EyeWriter
is low-cost, eye-tracking glasses & free, open-source software that
allows writers and artists with paralysis to draw and communicate
using only their eyes.
Overview
The EyeWriter provides low-cost, DIY hardware and FREE software for
anyone suffering from paralysis caused from ALS, stroke, neuromuscular
disease, spinal cord damage or injuries sustained in war. The
EyeWriter allows people the freedom to once again establish their
artistic selves & communicate again using only their eyes!
Our project was born from the needs and desires of artists and writers
who had lost the physical ability to express their natural creative
skills. While there are products that already exist to help patients
communicate, they are extremely expensive, heavy and very difficult to
acquire through health insurance or Medicaid.
What we discovered was that we could offer the basic freedom of
communication, at next to no cost, to all people who live without the
use of their hands for any multitude of reasons from degenerative
disease to traumatic injury.
Deliverables: 1,000 Eyewriters to be distributed to individuals nationwide
How will the 250K be Used?
$ 80,000 Software programming costs, advanced rounds of ocular tracking program
$ 50,000 Materials to fabricate 1,000 EyeWriters
$ 12,500 Postage and distribution of 1,000 EyeWriters
$ 30,000 Website creation and custom interface for EyeWriter users
$ 15,000 Website upkeep and maintenance
$ 55,000 Staff funding, outreach development, web specialists
$ 7,500 Misc, overhead, travel expenses
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Parijata Mackey
University of Chicago
pari...@gmail.com
www.parijata.com
“Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and
find your liberty.” --Frank Herbert
“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of
what I am saying.” --Oscar Wilde
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