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From: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Ocular/Eye Control of Cursor??
Message-ID: <1857@dciem.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-May-86 19:12:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: dciem.1857
Posted: Fri May  2 19:12:49 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 2-May-86 20:23:01 EDT
References: <1851@dciem.UUCP> <458@mips.UUCP>
Reply-To: mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor)
Distribution: net
Organization: D.C.I.E.M., Toronto, Canada
Lines: 66
Summary: 


>> 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.

It depends. I use "HI" setting and Control-Panel mouse setting "1".
I find the head tracker ("View Control System") faster for accurate
positioning than the mouse, but only for situations where one want a
cursor placement leading to a "click" event.

>
>> 2) Is it as accurate as a mouse ie can place the cursor easily in between 
>> letters??
>
>No.

Yes. Easier than the mouse.  However, it is much less easy than a mouse
for drawing smooth curves.  I would use the VCS for text editing every
time, because one does not have to keep taking the hands off the
keyboard, and because the VCS makes it easier to get accurate placement
of the cursor.

>
>> 7) Is it worth the price??
>
>No.

Depends on how much money you have.

Personics claims that they have built the VCS with a microphone input,
and will be providing a voice-recognition device (presumably for menu
command control, but they don't say so).

I use the VCS mainly for writing reports, which I do in ThinkTank 512
(transferring to UNIX troff for printing, with appropriate editing
done automatically).  I would never use it for MacDraw or MacPaint
(though I did once, for fun(?)).

When you look at the lab study statistics, you have to ask about the
conditions.  In the long run, nothing compares with real-world experience:
do users stick with a device once the novelty has worn off, given that
they have equal access to other devices for the same task?  The VCS
allows you rapidly to switch from using the head-tracker to using the
mouse.  I think for me the novelty has worn off, and I still use the
VCS.  My only gripe is that it grips my head too tightly, no matter how
I set the pressure pads, but after a while one gets used to it.
>
VCS is made by: Personics Corporation, 2352 Main St, Building 2,
Concord, MA 01742. (617) 897-1575.
-- 

Martin Taylor
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