EOG-based glasses-type wireless mouse for the disabled

A new EOG (Electrooculogram)-based computer input device was developed for the disabled. The device acquires EOG signals generated by eye movements and blinks and produces output for emulating the PC mouse. For the user's convenience, electrodes are positioned on five specific points on the frame of a glasses having good contact with skin and requiring no electrolyte gel. From the acquired signals we estimate the direction and amplitude of eye movement and detect blinks using a microcontroller. The estimated information is sent to a PC through a wireless RF linkage for the device to be used as a wireless mouse. A new virtual lead positioning algorithm was also developed to detect vertical eye motion which is relatively difficult to be measured in this specific electrode positioning. Test results shows sufficient performance of the device in using basic Windows functions and even playing TETRIS, a well known computer game.