Eye tracking device opens new doors for cerebral palsy patients

Ganga, a teenager who suffers from severe cerebral palsy, cannot move her arms or legs much. She also lacks motor control, which makes it hard for her to speak, or move her fingers or toes in a certain direction.

So she relies on her eyes to communicate. When she wants to go somewhere, she points with her eyes. When she needs something, she yells without words.

She started communicating two years ago thanks to an eye tracker called Tobii Dynavox PCEye Go.

The device costs around Rs two lakh, and it was bought for Ganga by Dr Michelle Harrison, who heads the ashram in Kolkata where Ganga lives.

The Tobii Dynavox PCEye Go has now been discontinued and replaced with a new tracker called PCEye Mini, available in India via Vitasta India. The eye tracker is a compact device that rests against the laptop, just above the keyboard. It helps people type with their eyes or point to specific requirements such as water, food, or bathroom by staring at a point for a couple of seconds.

The eye tracker makes it easy for patients like Ganga to express their emotions.