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From: hansen@mips.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Ocular/Eye Control of Cursor??
Message-ID: <458@mips.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Apr-86 16:31:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: mips.458
Posted: Mon Apr 28 16:31:19 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 2-May-86 07:43:46 EDT
References: <1851@dciem.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: MIPS Computer Systems, Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 53

> I have seen advertisements for an ocular or eye controlled cursor device. I
> cannot recall the product's name but it cost about $200.
> 
> I would like to know if anyone used this product and how well does it work?

I recently attended a course in which we investigated this and other
pointing devices, from the standpoint of accuracy and speed.  I do not have
a specific reference on the device, which was actually a "head tracker" that
was controlled by head movements, rather than eye movements.  It is highly
unlikely that an "eye tracker" could be built for a sell price within an
order of magnitude of $200.

> 1) Is it faster than a nimble mouse?

No.

> 2) Is it as accurate as a mouse ie can place the cursor easily in between 
> letters??

No.

> 7) Is it worth the price??

No.


The group that tested this device contacted the manufacturer prior to
testing, and was advised that the device was intended only for rather gross
pointing maneuvers.  They observed an extremely long learning curve that
continued beyond a full day of use, which ran contrary to manufacturers
claims that a half-hour or less was required to gain proficiency with the
device. Even after a full days training, the device was not faster than a
mouse, even for gross pointing, even considering its "hands-free" mode of
operation.

As an aside, other devices tested included teflon pads for the underside of
a mouse, pads to run a mouse on, trackballs, joysticks, and the effects of
scaling between mouse and cursor movement. Everything tested was worse, or
was not statistically better, than the standard mac mouse.  In particular,
the use of the "proportional control," (setting of (1) next to the mouse
icon on the control panel) generally decreased performance on several tasks
we measured. Overall, the tests indicated that user preference for these
gadgets was not well-correlated with user performance.

Does anyone out there have a "foot mouse?" We didn't have any luck finding
one for the tests.  It's yet another alternative for those looking for
hands-free pointing devices.

-- 

Craig Hansen			|	 "Evahthun' tastes
MIPS Computer Systems		|	 bettah when it
...decwrl!mips!hansen		|	 sits on a RISC"