Researchers develop innovative tracking device for wheelchair users

The technology, dubbed IRIS, works by the user wearing a tracking device on their face, which has a small camera on it. The camera then sends a signal to a central unit via infrared leds, precisely tracking eye movement right down to the exact position of the iris, which relays the message to the electronics of the wheelchair. According to lead researcher Dr Prashant Pillai, users need only look in the direction they wish to travel and the wheelchair responds. " We are really excited by how well our prototype is working and have managed to reduce the reaction time from when the eye movement takes place down from a few seconds to just a few milliseconds – which will feel instantaneous for the user," said Dr Pillai. "We have also made the headset completely wireless." Pillai noted, however, that the ultimate goal is to remove the obtrusive headset entirely and place infrared coupled cameras around the front of the chair pointed up at the eyes. "The long term aspiration is to work towards a fully assisted home, where a user could just look at their television, lighting or music equipment to switch it on," she commented. The research team now intends to refine the technology further, before consulting with disability groups to carry out user testing. They are hoping to attract external investment to allow them to further develop it and take it to market.