special-world-issue-1

FEATURE | COMMUNICATIONBACK TOCONTENTSToday, there is a growing range of specialist eye-gazetitles, with many more in the pipeline, catering for a varietyof learners, not just competent AAC users. Some of thesemeet many past concerns, such as ease of use for the sup-Having followed and participated in the eye-gaze revolutionfor over 20 years I now have a ‘vision’ that eye-gazetechnology will take its place alongside switch and touchtechnologies as an essential tool for the special needsclassroom or individual. I also believe it will offer us moreinsights about and opportunities for our most complexstudents.Click here to watch the video of InclusiveEye Gaze Attention and LookingNow an easy to use eyetracker with specially designedsoftware to use wth a range of learners is available forunder £1,000. That is what I call progressporting adult and user, a clear starting point and roadmapfor both assessment and teaching goals, and, of course,affordability.My own interest has now turned to what we can learnfrom what children look at when using eye-gaze. From thelate 1800s eye tracking has been used to help us betterunderstand the relationship between vision and cognition.Although we still cannot infer exactly what someone isthinking from what they are looking at — e.g. gazing on aface in a picture may indicate recognition, puzzlement, orsomething else — there is much we can learn from using atool that objectively records looking behaviours. Furtheruse and research using eye-gaze may help us better understandhow our special needs leaners learn and hence howwe can best teach and interact with them.20+ years later … a device that can read my eyesAs for David, I have been following his evolution too — intoa handsome young man of 30 (eek!). His mum contactedme again this year (though I must say I had some lovelyXmas cards and photos in-between) to ask what I knewabout eye-gaze technology. Some time later I watched him,relaxing in his recliner buggy, effortlessly using his eyes toplay a game of smashing bottles. Around him other people’seyes, mine included, were fighting back the tears. ·Inclusive EyeGaze Learning Curve includes powerful,easy to use analysis tools allowing you to record andreview eye-gaze skillsDavid and his puppy, Molly40WWW.SPECIALWORLD.NET | ISSUE 1 | SEPTEMBER 2014