Eye Gaze Wheelchair Driving

For those users who are not able to physically control a powered wheelchair, eye gaze driving offers a solution. A special camera tracks the position of a users eye which is translated (often via a screen) to provide wheelchair drive instructions.

There are several devices on the market that use this technology and Rahana Life offer Ability Drive and Homebrace systems.

These devices also offer the ability to. adjust wheelchair seating too.

Safety of the user is paramount when considering eye gaze driving. The available systems have a number of safety features built in to protect the user, however of equal importance is the user and their powered wheelchair driving skills and experience. Most powered wheelchairs in the UK are provided through local NHS wheelchair services, and in these cases a user’s local wheelchair service must approve the use of eye gaze driving. This will involve both a technical approval, to match the eye gaze system with the powered wheelchair and accessories and also user competence approval. Rahana Life is committed to work with local wheelchair services to provide the best service to users. In cases of provision outside a local NHS wheelchair service, Rahana Life will work with all services and practitioners to ensure the effective and safe use of eye gaze driving.

Typical users may be people with Motor Neurone Disease, Muscular Dystrophy or Cerebral Palsy.

Ability Drive allows users who are not able to use a joystick to drive their powered wheelchair with their eyes

Ability Drive is a control system that enables the user to drive powered wheelchair with their eyes, using eye gaze technology.

Ability Drive was developed by Tolt Technologies in the United States and has a growing user base across the World.

Ability Drive currently works with an approved range of Communication Tablets, all of which are Windows based.

The MyEcc Prop Eye Control is a control system for powered wheelchairs that allows users to operate their wheelchair independently using eye movements. This is used in conjunction with an eye gaze communication device.

This system is proportional, which means the users eye movements control both direction and speed of the powered wheelchair. The system can also be used to control the wheelchair seating.

MyEcc Prop can be used with Windows and iOS devices.

The MyEcc Pupil system was developed to reliably control a powered wheelchair using eye movement in a wide range of lighting conditions, including bright sunlight and low light.

The MyEcc Pupil provides a clear view for wheelchair driving as it does not use an eye gaze commuication tablet.

Seat adjustments and even control of the Jaco robotic arm are possible with MyEcc Pupil.

MyEcc Pupil Prop is compatible with a wide range of powered wheelchairs and offers proportional driving which delivers good direction and speed control.

The glasses are provided with photochromic lenses which automatically adjust to light conditions. Additionally, they can be fitted with prescription lenses.