We had the idea for EyeBoard while working on our final project during our last year of computer engineering. We wanted to develop an alternative input device for PCs, one which would not have to be operated with your hands, as is usually the case. Finally we had the innovative idea of using eye movements to operate it: by attaching sensors to a person’s temples and measuring EOG activity (brain waves which are produced by eye movements), and then analysing and transmitting the results to a PC, we believed it should be possible to write texts and use programs on the computer. Actual control would occur by small changes in eye direction.

The first part of the project concentrated entirely on EyeBoard-assisted text input and the communication it enabled. The second part of the project used the EyeBoard to navigate through a virtual model of the user’s own living quarters and to control the household appliances found there. This device should be able to aid many people, e.g. paraplegics who are not able to move anything but their eyes.

This project was the continuation of a project begun during the school year of 2002/2003 and focused on creating a functional prototype of the EyeBoard.