In a push accessible technology, people with disabilities such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), motor neurone disease (MND), Cerebral palsy or spinal cord injury is now possible to control the iPad with just the eyes, and a new device has been introduced.
TD Pilot offers a voice and control
TD Pilot makes it possible for users to control their iPad, use apps, and even create natural-sounding voices with their eyes. It builds on support for eye-tracking devices that Apple introduced in iPadOS 15 and is medically certified for use by people with disabilities like ALS and Cerebral Palsy.
The product is an authorized Made-for-iPad accessory developed by subsidiary Tobii Tobii Dynavox work with Apple. Tobii is a global leader in eye-tracking technology, with solutions in use in thousands of businesses and research institutes worldwide.
What is this and what does it do?
The system uses iPads, custom covers, and Tobii Dynavox apps running on the device. These applications include TD Talk, which generates natural speech, and TD Snap, which is described as a symbol-enabled solution to facilitate communication.
The waterproof and dustproof housing is also definitely worth noting. It complements the iPad with extra features, including powerful speakers, a battery pack, a wheelchair mount, and boasts a small rear-mounted display that mirrors what TD Pilot users are saying to help with face-to-face communication. more natural.
Eye tracking technology can be unreliable in bright light, but TD Pilot says its system, available today, can track eyes even in bright sunlight.
Apple builds foundational technology
Introducing a product is not easy at all. Not only did Apple and Tobii work together to develop it for a while, but iPadOS support has been around for years.
Apple has always been at the forefront of the game in terms of accessibility. But some features, such as eye tracking or gesture detection, took time to build in, despite being able to control devices with its innovative Voice Over technology.
Of course, the principles of its construction and those will apply here as well. Now that Apple mobile products support such a wide range of accessibility features, it seems unlikely that we will see more developers offering solutions of this kind to the Apple market. avoidable.
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s Senior Director of Global Outreach Policy and Initiatives, said in a TD Pilot statement:
“We are delighted that those who need this technology will have the opportunity to control iPads with just their eyes…. We build the foundational technology, including eye tracking support, into our operating systems to make them accessible, and we’re delighted that Tobii Dynavox’s TD Pilot is leveraging that to let allowing people with disabilities to follow their passions. ”
With Apple AI/ML Accessibility research lead Jeffrey Bigham, Herrlinger will speak at Sight Tech Global Conference on December 1 (The session related to the surname is called “Designing for Everyone: Accessibility and Machine Learning at Apple. “) Herrlinger also said in the same event in 2020, as she focuses on VoiceOver Recognition and machine learning.
Tools that make a difference
Such solutions can make a real difference for people. Team Gleason is one of the largest ALS nonprofits. Its director of impact, Blair Casey, called the launch of TD Pilot for iPad “an important turning point in accessibility”.
In part, that’s because this powerful technology is now on the iPad for the first time, even though it’s been on Windows since its inception. “So many people who need eye-tracking technology are forced to give up their original technology,” says Casey.
If there’s one difficulty, it’s cost.
Full systems can cost thousands of dollars. And while it’s available for iPad, it’s not yet available on Mac. It seems inevitable that the price will put this out of reach for many who will benefit from it, though The results can be profound. To be fair, this isn’t exactly a plug-and-play solution; a lot of work also has to take place around training and assessing one’s condition.
Competitive solutions Using the same technology is also starting to emerge, so expect costs to decrease over time, allowing more people to use the technology.
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