EyeCom: an IoT based affordable wearable solution for paralyzed people to interact with machines

Abstract

The world is innovating rapidly, and there is a need for continuous interaction with technology. Sadly, there do not exist promising options for paralyzed people to interact with the machines, i.e., laptops, smartphones, and tabs. A few commercial solutions such as Google Glasses are costly and cannot be afforded by every paralyzed person for such interaction. Towards this end, the paper proposes a retina-controlled device called EyeCom. The proposed device is constructed from off-the-shelf cost-effective yet robust IoT devices (i.e., Arduino microcontrollers, Xbee wireless sensors, IR diodes, and accelerometer). The device can easily be mounted on to the glasses; the paralyzed person using this device can interact with the machine using simple head movement and eye blinks. The IR detector is located in front of the eye to illuminate the eye region. As a result of illumination, the eye reflects IR light which includes electrical signals. As the eyelids close, the reflected light over the eye surface is disrupted, and the change in reflected value is recorded. Further to enable cursor movement onto the computer screen for the paralyzed person a device named accelerometer is used. The accelerometer is a small device, with the size of phalanges, a human thumb bone. The device operates on the principle of axis-based motion sensing and it can be worn as a ring by a paralyzed person. A microcontroller processes the inputs from the IR sensors, accelerometer and transmits them wirelessly via Xbee wireless sensor (i.e., a radio) to another microcontroller attached to the computer. With the help of a proposed algorithm, the microcontroller attached to the computer, on receiving the signals moves the cursor onto the computer screen and facilitate performing actions, as simple as opening a document to operating a word-to-speech software. EyeCom has features which can help paralyzed persons to continue their contributions towards the technological world and become an active part of the society. Resultantly, they will be able to perform a number of tasks without depending upon others from as simple as reading a newspaper on the computer to activate word-to-voice software.