What Is An Eye Typer?

Date First Published: 7th July 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Hardware

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 4/10

CONTENTS

How Do Eye Typers Work?

Learn about what an eye typer is in this article.

An eye typer is an input device that tracks the user's eye movements and determines where the user is looking. A camera is mounted on the computer that focuses on the user's eye and can tell where they are looking. Mouse clicks are recorded by small blinks. This accessibility device is used by people with greater mobility difficulties who cannot use a mouse, keyboard, or trackball.

An eye typer is designed to be just as fast as traditional typing without making any mistakes. Some studies have reported that users typing with their eyes is more faster and reliable than on-screen keyboards that rely on eye movements. Eye typers often require a software program and can produce around 15-35 words per minute. For example, OptiKey is an open-source on-screen keyboard that allows people to type and click with their eyes.

How Do Eye Typers Work?

Eye typers work by using an infrared beam to illuminate the user's face and a small video camera to record the position of their eyes. It calibrates itself whilst the user stares at a range of markers which appear at specific locations on the screen. The markers are replaced by an on-screen keyboard.

Each time the user moves their eyes, the user can direct a small red dot around the keyboard and type a specific letter by holding their gaze on it for about half a second. Other commands, such as saving, renaming, deleting, or printing a file can be run by looking at specific places on the screen.