Communicating with your eyes

What eye-tracking communication is

Communicating with the eyes means the person chooses letters and phrases by looking, without having to move their hands. An eye-tracking device has a camera that understands where they are looking on the screen. The gaze becomes the movement a finger would make on an ordinary phone.

On FONE that choice is tied to a voice. Whatever is written is spoken aloud, in a natural Greek or English voice, so the people in the room can hear it. It is not mind reading, and it is not a medical examination of the eyes. It is a way to write a message and have it said.

FONE is a technology communication aid, a tool for augmentative and alternative communication. It is not a certified medical device and it is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. How well it follows the eyes can differ from person to person and from room to room.

How writing with the eyes works

At the beginning there is a short setup, the calibration. We do it with you, so the family can see exactly what happens and can repeat it when it is needed. It is not a hidden step that happens once in a lab and is then forgotten.

After the setup, the person looks at the screen. The camera understands where the gaze falls. They hold it for a moment on a letter or on a ready-made phrase, and the choice is made. A word is built letter by letter, or a phrase the family uses often is selected. Word prediction suggests words and phrases, so the path is shorter.

When the sentence is ready, FONE says it in a natural Greek voice. If at some point the hand is more comfortable, the same device is used by touch. You do not need a second device for the days when the eyes are tired or the hands can help.

Who an eye-tracking device can suit

It can suit people who find it hard to speak or to move their hands, and who want another way to communicate. It does not suit everyone in the same way, which is why the introduction happens in person, not as a promise on a page.

For people with ALS or motor neurone disease, it is communication with the eyes or by touch, which can follow as needs change. After a stroke, it is an alternative way to communicate when speech is difficult. With multiple sclerosis, it is communication with the eyes or by touch when speech or hand movement is difficult.

With a motor disability, the person can write, be heard and send messages without using their hands. When a voice is hard to use, they write what they want to say and FONE says it in a natural voice. For older people with reduced mobility, the screen is simple and clear. Families and caregivers use it for everyday communication, and for the SOS alert when they are needed.

Practical notes for the room and the setup

The demonstration and, if you go ahead, the installation happen where the person lives. You do not need a special room. A quiet space is enough, in the place where they usually sit or lie down. The light is the light of your own home. That way you see how the eye-tracking device behaves in the conditions you will actually have, not in an empty showroom.

Lighting, the person’s position, the distance from the screen, glasses or reflections, and tiredness can all affect how it performs. That is why we do not say the gaze works the same for every person. If someone tires easily or is in bed, the try happens wherever they are most comfortable, with breaks when they need them.

• Choose the place where the person usually sits or lies down.
• A quiet space is enough. Nothing special needs to be prepared.
• Do the short calibration together, so you both see it.
• Hold the gaze on the letter or the phrase until it is selected.
• When touch is easier, use the touch screen.
• Stop when there is tiredness. The device stays ready for later.

What else FONE does, besides the keyboard

The eye keyboard is the base, not the only piece. There are phrases and categories, word prediction, a natural Greek and English voice, an SOS alert to the caregiver, Telegram messages, and AI Companion for conversation and everyday questions. There are also card games, for a quiet moment.

The basic communication features work without an internet connection. Telegram, AI Companion and updates need a connection. New capabilities arrive wirelessly. At installation we show the person and the family how to use it, in Greek.

See also

• ALS and MND
• For professionals
• Questions