New Input Devices

                As increases in technology become more rampant and more frequent, the range of options for input and output devices for computers becomes much greater. Rather than just simply using a keyboard and a mouse for input and a printer for output, there are now much more complex devices such as voice recognition, touch screen tablets, and 3D printers. The most interesting new input device I have seen is the Tobii PCEye Go which allows the gaze of an eye to replace the function of using a mouse.

                This piece of technology works very similar to motion recognition software that is used in videogames such as a Wii or Xbox Kinect except it focuses on just the eyes. The PCEye Go allows the items on the screen to be moved and opened based on the gaze of your eyes as an input device, instead of having to use the mouse. The product is easy to be set up, as it only requires a connection to a USB port (like a mouse), and then it only needs to calibrated on the screen before use. This input device is not a product that the general public would probably find to be of much use, but it does have its intended audience. This eye gaze technology is extremely beneficial to people who suffer from spinal cord injuries and ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) that don’t have the physical capabilities to operate a computer with the standard input devices. For example, Steve Gleason a former NFL player who suffers from Lou Gehrig Disease uses the built-in keyboard feature on his PCEye Go to tweet and do other daily operations on the computer and was recently featured in a Microsoft commercial during the Super Bowl highlighting technology. While it may not be practical for everyone I think it is a really cool idea that opens the door for many people to continue to communicate despite physical difficulties. This idea is something that I can see be put in to wider use in the future, as it can help people who suffer from strokes and that are paralyzed to use a computer for personal use or even for work.

                As technology continues to improve and become more sophisticated it is refreshing to see it be used for purposes that improve the quality of lives for people. The use of the Tobii PCEye Go is just one example of an input device that has made it capable for people with disabilities to be able to connect to and use the Web.

   Here are the sources I used:

http://www.tobii.com/en/assistive-technology/global/products/hardware/pceye/

http://mashable.com/2013/02/15/steve-gleason-tweets-with-eyes-als/