RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems Antoinette Verdone 06 Oct 2008 16:30 UTC

Oh, I did not know that.  Thanks.

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
Assistive Technology Specialist
The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter
116 John Street, Suite 1304
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-720-3054
Fax: 212-619-7409
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx
www.als-ny.org

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar"  -- Helen
Keller
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Taylor, Barry
Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 4:22 AM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

Antoinette
My copy of quickglance uses both eyes, with the option for disregarding
one of them.

Barry

Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
Medical Physics Service
Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ
Tel: 01482 675928, Fax: 01482 675750
xxxxxx@xxxxxxx
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Antoinette
Verdone
Sent: 03 October 2008 21:40
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

Then, maybe you should look at how the systems look at the eye.  From
what I know the LC Tech and ERICA use the same camera setup to look at
one eye.  The Quickglance and Dynavox EyeMax have the same camera/led
setup to look at one eye.  The MyTobii uses multiple cameras and LEDs,
and it looks at both eyes.

So, this narrows it down to three choices - one from each group.  At
that point it really becomes a quagmire of which one works "best."  It
seems that some people "get" some systems better than others, and there
does not seem to be a way to predict this.

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
Assistive Technology Specialist
The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter
116 John Street, Suite 1304
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-720-3054
Fax: 212-619-7409
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx
www.als-ny.org

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar"  -- Helen
Keller

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hill, Katharine
J
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 3:51 PM
To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

Couldn't agree more!  However, the reality for most of our centers is
that we have a limited budget to update and enhance the technologies
available for assessments.  In an ideal world each clinic would be able
to line up all the eye gaze systems on the market and clients could try
each one and compare simultaneously.  Even with this approach, the
client and the team may be making a decision based on ease of use at
first encounter rather than the most effective long-term use -
especially if change is expected.  In this case, which system, after the
initial learning phase, would have the best, most reliable selection
rate (bits/sec), accuracy, reliability (e.g. maintaining calibration),
stability, flexibility, etc.

Given that our clients would not be able to tolerate the large number of
targets needed to be selected for an adequate trial, I'm afraid that
we're always struggling not to base a choice on impressions of
effectiveness.  Consequently, I'd really like to have more clinical and
personal evidence to go by to discuss with clients/families to guide
decisions or to support purchasing technology for a clinic.

If for example, my clinic can only afford to purchase 1 eye gaze system,
should we want to have the best performing, most flexible technology
possible for the budget?  During the demonstration of eye gaze access as
a control interface, we could then be collecting baseline data from the
center's system while fully informing clients about the features and
performance of other systems also.

I'm curious about how many different eye gaze systems most clients get
an opportunity to trial, and what type of performance differences and
user-ratings you're seeing among those systems.

Is anyone using the Quest or PIADS to support the effectiveness of the
intervention?   Do you prefer using the Questionnaire for User Interface
Satisfaction (Quis) or designing your own surveys using the Quis format?

Thanks for the previous replies and any additional feedback or
discussion.

Katya

-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Wright, Amy
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:16 AM
To: 'xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

I have to agree with Antoinette.  There's not one eye-gaze system that
seems to work for every patient.  To conduct the best evaluation we
would all need a demo model of each system.  Most of my patients are
using either Tobii or ERICA but that is largely due to the fact that I
have more regional support for and access to these systems.

Have you talked to Keith Jackson at EyeTech?  They were able to let us
borrow a system for independent evaluation last year.

Amy Wright, MCD, CCC-SLP

Speech Therapy Coordinator

(704) 355-0867

-----Original Message-----

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Antoinette
Verdone

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 11:00 AM

To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

In my limited observations, different patients have chosen different

eyegaze systems for different reasons.

So, I don't think that you are going to find one system that "performs"

better than others.  It is just what works for that particular patient.

That is why it is important for patients to be given the opportunity to

try out different systems (for a period of time) before making this

important decision.

I have a hard time understanding these eye gaze vendors who do not want

to loan out systems.  I understand that they have to be selective, but

if you want someone to buy a $10,000+ device, you have to give them the

opportunity to try it out!  It is not just about money.  If a person

with ALS makes a quick decision based on a five minute eval, and then it

does not work in real life - they are stuck!  (THIS DOES HAPPEN!!!)

We are now living in a world with multiple eye gaze systems that all

have pros and cons that should be weighed for each situation.

Also, systems have different software options that could also be the

deciding factor, not strictly eye gaze performance.

Another often overlooked aspect of this is service.  If a certain eye

gaze system has no support in your local area, then I don't know that it

should ever be recommended for purchase.

In my humble opinion, I don't know if purchasing a system is the best

route - why don't we make the vendors work for their commissions!

Ok, I am getting off my soapbox now.

Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP

Assistive Technology Specialist

The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter

116 John Street, Suite 1304

New York, NY 10038

Phone: 212-720-3054

Fax: 212-619-7409

Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx

www.als-ny.org

"One cannot consent to creep when one has the impulse to soar"  -- Helen

Keller

-----Original Message-----

From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Hill, Katharine

J

Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 9:48 AM

To: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: [Assistive Technology] comparing eye gaze systems

Our rehab clinic is exploring purchasing an eye gaze system.  We have

several vendors demonstrating product.  However, you may have

experienced that vendors are reluctant to leave a system for staff to

try out independently.  As a training institution we have several

students who would be able to test out a system to give us good data to

make comparisons. Have any of you been successful with having an eye

gaze system left for you try and evaluate independently? When one system

was borrowed from an AT lending library a few months back, staff had

trouble with calibration of the system.

I know we would be very grateful if clinicians on the list would provide

us with any performance data that has been collected to compare eye gaze

technologies, especially selection rates and under what conditions these

rates were achieved.  Also, what are the other criteria you're using to

evaluate and compare eye gaze control interfaces as well as personal

observations on performance and user-satisfaction.

Thanks for any input that may help our clinic in making the most

informed choice.

Great news about the ALS funding!!!

Katya

Katya Hill, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Associate Professor

Communication Science and Disorders

6017 Forbes Tower

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260

Tel: 412-383-6659

Fax: 412-383-6555

Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxx

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