Text composing software for disabled people, using blink and motion detection

Abstract

We presentate a pc software to give disabled persons the possibility of writing texts without mouse and keyboard. Single letters and words are presented, scrolling over the screen. The suggested words are chosen from a self-learning database by frequency of their use. Although different kinds of binary input signals can be used, we focused on blink detection for choosing letters and words. Algorithms based on Haar Cascades are used for finding the eyes. We aim on low-cost realisation, therefore a state-of-the-art Windows based computer and a commercially available webcam is used. As an alternative input device we used a acceleration sensor for motion detection. We could successfully demonstrate quick text writing with different test persons. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.