Development of gaze interface for disabled people and its extension to low-cost communication tool

“凝视界面”是一种让用户只盯着屏幕就能使用电脑的界面，它被认为是残疾人最有前途的输入方式之一。本研究旨在通过解决基于凝视系统的技术难题，实现实用的基于凝视界面原型，并评估其可行性，为这些残疾人开发一种低成本的凝视界面。在本研究中，我们获得了以下主要成果：(1)开发了日语句子输入的注视界面原型：基于gazetalk系统开发了平假名输入的注视界面。开发的原型根据其可行性、可用性和特性进行了评估。此外，还详细分析了用户在注视输入中的行为（输入速度和错误）。(2)识别人类凝视界面使用过程中的凝视行为特征：追踪并收集用户误激活、过早注视等错误凝视行为。基于所收集的数据，确定了学习对错误注视行为频率的影响。(3)通过扩展(1)中开发的注视界面原型，实现了两种应用注视界面的打字系统：S-和C-gazetalk系统，使用户能够生成完整的日语句子。与原型相比，这些系统具有复杂的布局，可以提高其可用性。

Gaze interface, which enables users to use computers by just gazing at a screen, has been recognized as one of the most promising input means for physically challenged people. This study aimed at the developing a low-cost gaze interface for such disabled people by solving technical challenges relating to gaze-based systems, implementing a prototype of practical gaze based interface, and evaluating its feasibility. In this study, we could obtain the followings as principal results :(1) A gaze interface prototype for typing Japanese sentences was developed : A gaze interface which allowed us to type "Hiragana" characters was developed based on gazetalk system. The developed prototype was evaluated in terms of its feasibility, usability, and its features. In addition, users' behavior (typing speed and errors) in gaze-typing were analyzed in detail.(2) Characteristics of human gaze behavior during using gaze interface were identified : Users' erroneous gaze behavior such as miss-activations and premature fixations were traced and collected. Based on the collected data, the effects of learning on the frequencies of erroneous gaze behavior were identified.(3) Two kinds of typing system applying gaze interface was implemented by extending the gaze interface prototype developed in (1) : S-, and C-gazetalk systems which enabled users to produce complete Japanese sentences were developed. These systems have sophisticated layouts that improve their usability compared to the prototype.