The EyeWriter

Step 10 EyeWriter installation

The EyeWriter interface can be used to create drawings on screen, or using a small projector, you can create drawings on the wall in a hospital room. We have also used the EyeWriter software in conjunction with a special version of the Laser Tag software to project EyeTags at large scale in public space. The following steps and links will help you to create an EyeWriter installation catered to your needs.

On-Screen Drawing

In order to create on-screen drawing you will simply need to follow the steps featured in the previous step. This will work with both the mytobii system software as well as the EyeWriter hardware and software suite.

Co-located and Projected Drawing

In order to create drawing using the EyeWriter hardware/software or the EyeWriter software/Mytobii system, you will need a digital projector and a projection screen or surface. You will need to calibrate the EyeWriter user to the projection surface. We have experimented with using a regular bed sheet as a projection screen successfully.

Remote Drawing and Projection

To do remote projection you will need two computers, both connected to the internet, a mobile broadcast system connected to one computer and the Laser Tag OSC receive software (super-beta). For more information on mobile broadcasting and projection bombing check out GRL's projection bombing tutorial on instructables and the MBU diagram below. We have also used Sprint wireless broadband cards to create wireless remote connection between the two computers.

We are no currently supporting the Laser Tag OSC receive software, but you are welcome to download it and hack around with it. In order to project the GML (graffiti markup language) tags you will need to drag the GML data into /bin/data and rename the file tempt.gml. We will soon release the full EyeWriter send/recieve software with instructions. For more GML tags, visit Evan Roth's unreleased beta site http://000000book.com/ and download the more GML tags here. Stay tuned for more from GRL, Fi5e and the EyeWriter team and if you're interested contact the EyeWriter team and become a developer/collaborator.

Comments

[lacebassett]

Thanks guys! Everything worked out great so far. Word to the wise. Make em light. My first version was too heavy to stay on the viewers face.

[insmac]

Great to see the work that Bob Wasburn and I did in the 1970's being continued and updated.

We used an ir diode, ir sensor on the glasses, and a Sinclair ZX-81 to allow an ALS patient to communicate with friends and family.

Keep up the cool work!

Mac

[imonsei]

This is seriously awesome.

it's things like this that makes me think that humanity has a chance after all :)

on the other hand tho... it will enable people to even more lazy now :D
wonder if you can do anything like that with a wiimote... hmmmmz ;)

[freakyqwerty]

It depends on what wavelength of IR LED you are using. Near infrared (800 nm to 1400 nm) is projected on to the retena which means if it is powerful it will burn your retina but infra red over 1400 nm will be blocked by the cornea, which has pain sensors so you will know.

_____

Bottom line; If you get an IR LED that is powerful enough it will damage your eyes.



http://www.ehow.com/facts_6142267_infrared-light-effect-eyes.html

[MacGyver1138]

I don't know that the Wiimote could be used to do eye tracking, but it could pretty easily be rigged up for someone who could move their head. 

This project is awesome, and it's cool that it is inexpensive.  Now I want to see if anyone can improve on those "brain toys" that let you control a fan by thinking.  If they can be made to interpret more specific commands, they could be used in a similar manner to this project.

[BlueFusion]

 Check out the OCZ nia - it's marketed as a gaming peripheral, but it's capable of so much more.

[dawgz031]

wow...this is really great.....

but im just wondering would ir damage your eyes???

[freakyqwerty]

It depends on what wavelength of IR LED you are using. Near infrared (800 nm to 1400 nm) is projected on to the retena which means if it is powerful it will burn your retina but infra red over 1400 nm will be blocked by the cornea, which has pain sensors so you will know.
_____
Bottom line; If you get an IR LED that is powerful enough it will damage your eyes.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_6142267_infrared-light-effect-eyes.html

[NastySpill]

This is my concern as well. I have asked a friend of mine whos an optomologist or opthomologist  - she works with eyes.. I'll post her answer here, when I find out.

[Bad Maxx]

It is always good to be safe and your concern is appreciated, However this has been addressed thoroughly in previous posts.

[whiteboyninja]

That's awsome! I do have a few questions though.
1) Can it work on a mac?
2) Is there any way you can use it as a computer mouse?
3) Can it work with the ps2 Eyetoy?