Active Research Projects
The SBIR program has enabled InvoTek to create new technologies for the disability field. We have released Accupoint™, a new head-tracking system that links the user’s head position with the computer cursor and enables people to easily control a computer mouse with head movements as small as 0.125 inches. We are working on a Phase 2 SBIR grant to develop a speech-aware word prediction program that reduces the number of required keystrokes for writing by 40% over the best technology presently available for people with physical and speech disabilities. And we are successfully completing a Phase 1 SBIR grant for proving the feasibility of an eye tracking system that will cost one-tenth of systems with similar capabilities.
In May of 2007, we received two new grants. We now have Phase 2 SBIR funding for the development of an eye-safe laser-pointing system that has proven to be exceptionally important for people with “locked-in syndrome”. In this condition, people retain their cognitive abilities but lose the ability to control any part of their body other than their eyes. An independent clinical evaluation of laser system prototypes showed that it may help many of these people to relearn head movement – in one user’s experience, even after 18 years of no movement. We also received Phase 1 SBIR funding for the development of a laser controlled system that enabled people to safely laser point into their environment for communication and environmental control purposes.
The SBIR programs at the National Institutes of Health (particularly the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development) and the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) have been an important source of funding for InvoTek. With this research support, we will develop several new ways for people with severe disability to access computers and other assistive devices. This development work would not be possible without SBIR support.
If you have questions, comments, or would like to distribute any of these projects, please contact Tom Jakobs at tjakobs @ invotek.org (to email remove spaces).
In addition to our SBIR work, InvoTek was invited in
January of 2007 to be a partner in a virtual Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Center (RERC) made up of leading researchers in the AAC field from Duke University,
Children’s Hospital Boston, Penn
State University,
the State University of New York at Buffalo, and
the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Speech Supplemented Word Prediction
Commercial speech recognition software offers many people with physical limitations an important computer access method. While this access method is reasonably reliable for people with typical speech, people with motor speech disorders (dysarthria) are presently not able to reliably use this technology for writing and assistive technology control. The purpose of this research is to provide these people with a unique assistive-device access method that utilizes their speech.
This will be accomplished by developing a Speech Supplemented Word Prediction Program that enables people with dysarthria to use their speech capabilities to interact with personal computers and augmentative and alternative communication software. The central element of the program will be speech-recognition software that can be trained to exploit the user's speech capabilities for use in conjunction with a custom word prediction program.
The combination of the word prediction software
and the speech recognition engine may provide the speaker with an
effective new communication method. It may be exceptionally efficient,
potentially reducing the number of keystrokes required to produce
text by 75%. It also promotes the effective use of dysarthric speech
for communication.
Laser Access System
The objective of this system is to
provide people, who are unable to use their hands or voice, with an alternate
method for accessing assistive devices and computers. The InvoTek
solution is to use a laser that is eye safe to point at a laser-sensing surface that acts as a
keyboard. As the user targets the laser at "keys" on the laser-sensing surface,
information is sent to the computer or other speech output device. The laser-sensing surface developed
during this project is a unique process that can transform many
non-conductive materials into a large-area photosensor.
Eye Tracking System
This research is to determine the feasibility of a unique eye-tracking concept for controlling assistive devices. This access method will allow us to theoretically determine where the eye is pointing on a computer display to within 0.3 inches while also being quite tolerant of head movement. This method also does not require active devices to be mounted to the user.
The system combines a unique contact lens and infrared tracking system to measure where a person is looking. The mathematical approach is simple and efficient, opening the possibility that the system will be reasonably priced for the target population.
This eye-tracking system is specifically designed to meet
the technology access needs of persons who presently have few or no access
options. These individuals include those
with high spinal-cord injuries, brainstem strokes and those who are in the late
stages of degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
This is accomplished by developing a reasonably priced, practical
eye-controlled access method for augmentative communication devices,
environmental control units, and computers.
LaserCam
This system will offer people with severe disabilities an important new method for communicating when speaking is not possible. Presently, all augmentative communication systems require a person to interact directly with that device in order to generate messages. Interacting directly requires the user to have significant training in operating the device, and for many users requires frequent and precise setup before they can use it.
LaserCam offers assistive device users the ability to use their environment – made up of three dimensional objects, photographs, and communication symbol – to communicate. The user selects objects in a predefined “laser safe” communication area by targeting the objects with a custom laser that is exceptionally eye safe. The envisioned system permits a facilitator to design an access scheme that enables the user to progress seamlessly from low-tech partner interpreted pointing, to high-tech independent computer access.
Major tasks for the initial research include developing the image processing software and a safe computer controlled laser. People with disabilities will evaluate the system. The system will provide people with severe disability who cannot talk the opportunity to communicate effectively by pointing with a safe-laser.
Copyright © 2008 InvoTek, Inc.