BlinkWrite: efficient text entry using eye blinks

In this paper, a new text entry system is pro- posed, implemented, and evaluated. BlinkWrite provides a communication gateway for cognitively able motor- impaired individuals who cannot use a traditional eye- tracking system. In contrast to most hands-free systems, BlinkWrite allows text to be entered and corrected using a single input modality: blinks. The system was implemented using a scanning ambiguous keyboard, a new form of scanning keyboard that allows English text to be entered in less than two scanning intervals per character. In a user study, 12 participants entered text using the system with three settings for scanning interval: 1,000, 850, and 700 ms. An average text entry rate of 4.8 wpm was observed with accuracy (97%. The highest average text entry rate was achieved with the scanning interval of 850 ms.

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