According to the latest reports, (July 28, 2012) people who are deprived of limb movement will be able to write or draw on a computer screen, using only their eyes. Head-mounted cameras monitoring their eye movements will enable disabled people to express linguistic and emotional expression through the device, built by a French researcher. The communication comes from Jean Lorenceau of France’s CNRS research institute.

Mr. Lorenceau’s system, still just a prototype, compensates for erratic or jumpy eye movements to allow a smooth writing style.

After four half-hour training sessions, his subjects were able to write at a rate of about 25 letters per minute.

Such technology offers hope for restoring some level of independence to people suffering from multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and spinal cord injuries or amputees. Millions and millions of people with disabilities would benefit from such a system. Amazing!

Geeta Chhabra