Towards a wearable device for controlling a smartphone with eye winks

The development of mobile technology over the last years and the consequent boom of available apps has enabled users to migrate a wide range of activities that were traditionally performed on computers to their smartphones. Despite this new freedom to work ubiquitously, there are circumstances in which operating the device becomes difficult, e.g., when the hands are not free due to driving or other activities. Even though there are voice-control alternatives for operating smartphones, these do not perform well in crowded or noisy environments. In this paper we present EyeWink: an innovative hands- and voice-free wearable device that allows users to operate the smartphones with eye winks. The system records the Electrooculography (EOG) signals on the forehead by means of two facial electrodes. Eye winks are detected by comparing the potentials recorded from the electrodes, which also helps avoid false actuations due to (unavoidable) eye blinks. The user can associate the action to perform with each eye by means of an app installed on the smartphone. The proposed device can be widely used, with customers ranging from runners to people with severe disabilities.