LCT Eyegaze Edge User manual

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1 GETTING STARTED ....................................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Principle of Operation .............................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Requirements for Use.............................................................................................................. 2
1.3 Preparing for Use .................................................................................................................... 3
1.3.1 Positioning the Screen...................................................................................................... 3
1.3.2 Using the Eye Image Display............................................................................................ 3
1.3.3 Adjusting the Camera ....................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Calibrating the Eyegaze Edge ................................................................................................. 5
1.4.1 Calibration Procedure....................................................................................................... 5
1.4.2 Simple Calibration ............................................................................................................ 7
1.4.3 Maintaining Focus During Calibration ............................................................................... 7
1.4.4 Compensating for a Pupil Blocked by the Eyelid............................................................... 8
1.4.6 Accuracy Display .............................................................................................................. 8
1.4.7 Re-taking Calibration Points ............................................................................................. 9
1.4.8 Re-starting the Calibration Procedure............................................................................... 9
1.4.9 Terminating the Calibration Procedure ............................................................................. 9
1.4.10 Accepting Calibrations...................................................................................................... 9
1.4.11 Maintaining Eyegaze Accuracy....................................................................................... 10
1.4.12 Bringing up the Calibration Program from Other Screens ............................................... 10
1.5 Visually Pushing Keys ........................................................................................................... 10
1.5.1 User Feedback: Locator Dot........................................................................................... 10
1.5.3 Gaze Duration ................................................................................................................ 11
2 Eyegaze Programs ........................................................................................................................ 12
2.1 Main Menu............................................................................................................................. 12
2.2 Phrases ................................................................................................................................. 12
2.3 Keyboard ............................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.1 Special Features in the Keyboard Program .................................................................... 14
2.3.2 Keyboard Control Screen ............................................................................................... 15
2.4 Eyegaze Edge Links for Computer Access (option) ............................................................... 16
2.4.1 Mouse Control in the Computer Access Program ........................................................... 17
2.4.2 Assistant Interaction ....................................................................................................... 18
2.4.3 Some Cautions............................................................................................................... 19
3 Grid 3 Program (EYEWORLD)....................................................................................................... 20
3.1 Updating the Grid .................................................................................................................. 20
3.2 Email account Settings .......................................................................................................... 20
3.2.1 Gmail specific settings.................................................................................................... 20
3.2.2 Yahoo specific settings ................................................................................................... 21
3.2.3 iCloud settings................................................................................................................ 21
3.2.4 Manual email settings..................................................................................................... 22
3.2.5 AOL Email Settings ........................................................................................................ 23
3.2.6 Firewall settings for email ............................................................................................... 23
3.3 Connecting an Android or iPhone .......................................................................................... 24
4 Manual Controls for Eyegaze......................................................................................................... 32
4.1 ESC (Escape)........................................................................................................................ 32
4.2 Function Key Manual Controls............................................................................................... 32
4.3 Manual Controls for the Eyegaze Edge Links Computer Access Program ............................. 33
5 Using the EYEGAZE EDGE Settings Program............................................................................... 34
6 Assembling the Eyegaze Edge ...................................................................................................... 35
6.1 Cleaning the Eyegaze Edge System...................................................................................... 35
6.2 Select a Site for the Eyegaze Edge ....................................................................................... 35
6.3 Mount the Clamp and Arm for the Monitor ............................................................................. 35
6.4 Assembling Eyegaze Edge Tablet ......................................................................................... 36
7 Manufacturers Limited Warranty .................................................................................................... 37

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1 GETTING STARTED
The Eyegaze Edge is a tablet-based communication and control system than enables people to
connect with the world using only their eyes. To operate the system, the Eyegaze Edge control screen
is positioned in front of the user so he can comfortably access the screen with his eyes. Screen
displays typically include a variety of control and communication functions that the Eyegaze Edge is
capable of executing. When the user focuses his gaze on a desired “key” for a fraction of a second, the
Eyegaze Edge executes the associated function, such as verbalizing a phrase, typing a keyboard
character, or sending an email.
1.1 Principle of Operation
A specialized camera mounted below the Eyegaze control screen is focused on one of the user’s eyes.
The camera’s image of the eye is displayed in the upper right or left corner of the screen. The eye
image assists in optimally positioning the camera. Once positioned, the camera takes 60 pictures per
second of the eye; those images are analyzed in real time to determine the user’s gaze point on the
screen.
Eye tracking is done utilizing a small infrared light (LED) mounted in the center of the camera lens. The
LED illuminates the eye and provides a bright image of the pupil and bright spot reflecting off the
cornea. The bright corneal reflection is often referred to as the glint spot. Sophisticated image-
processing software in the system continually tracks the center of the pupil and the center of the glint
spot. Based on the relative positions of the pupil center and the glint spot, the Eyegaze Edge predicts
where on the control screen the user is looking.
Typically the Eyegaze Edge predicts the user’s gaze point with an accuracy of better than 1/4-inch,
enabling the user to activate keys as small as a 5/8-inch square. As feedback to the user, the Edge
displays a red dot, called the locator dot, on the screen at either the point where the user is looking or in
the center of the key the user is looking at, based on user preference.
The user operates the Eyegaze Edge by looking at rectangular keys that are displayed on the control
screen. To “press” a key visually, the user looks at the key for a specified period of time, called the
gaze duration, usually 1/4-second to 2/3-second. When the key is activated it flashes. The system then
takes the action associated with that key.
1.2 Requirements for Use
To operate the Eyegaze Edge effectively, a person should have good control of at least one eye. He
should be able to move his gaze freely over the full range of the control screen. He should be able to fix
his gaze at any desired position on the screen for a period of about 1/2-second in order to select and
activate the various keys.
Image: Eye with bright pupil and glint spot

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1.3 Preparing for Use
Note: In Section 1.3, “you” is understood to be the person assisting the user.
On the Eyegaze Edge desktop, click on either the Eyegaze icon or the EyeWorld icon to bring up
the calibration screen.
1.3.1 Positioning the Screen
The Eyegaze Edge screen must be positioned in front of the user in such a way that a) he can
comfortably see the entire screen, and b) the camera can clearly “see” one of his eyes. He should be
positioned between 18 – 30 inches from the screen, typically about 24 inches, depending on his
personal preference. The screen should always be parallel to his face with the top edge typically at
around eye level. Positioning the screen too high will make Eyegaze operation very fatiguing for the
user. If the user is reclining, angle the top of the screen down so he is facing it. If he is side-lying it is
typically easiest to point the camera at the eye which is highest.
Image: Side-lying position
1.3.2 Using the Eye Image Display
The eye image display appears in the upper right corner of the control screen*
Image: Seated position.

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*if no eye image is present when you are in an Eyegaze screen try pressing control-F12.
The eye image display contains:
a) a display of the full camera image (right window)
b) a magnified display of the eye (left window)
c) a focus indicator (between windows)
Use the display of the full camera image on the right to help center the camera on the user’s eye. Until
the eye is clearly visible in the window on the right there will be no image on the left. A close-up image
of the eye will appear in the left window once the camera is adequately focused on the eye. Always use
the full camera image on the right to aid in positioning the system and camera since the close-up image
will always be centered in its window, even when the eye is not actually centered in the camera’s field
of view.
The presence of an eye image in the close-up (left) window is an indication the eye is being “tracked.”
You will see a bright tracking dot in the center of the pupil and a very tiny dark tracking dot in the center
of the glint spot (corneal reflection). Look for these tracking indicators during the process of positioning
the system. The Eyegaze Edge and its camera are in a relatively good position when the image of the
eye is centered and the tracking indicator dots are present.
1.3.3 Adjusting the Camera
The camera angle and the focus range must be adjusted so a clear close-up image of the user’s eye
appears, and the focus indicator is centered over its tick mark. Typically either eye may be used.
Position the Eyegaze screen a comfortable distance from the user, typically around 20-26 inches away
from the screen, with the top of the screen at eye level or lower. The camera can be focused as close
as 16 inches from the user’s eyes to as for away as 30 inches, based on user preference. Note: It is
usually easier for the user to move his eyes around the screen when it is not too close.
Focus range indicator
A focus indicator is displayed between the two eye images to assist in fine-tuning the focus. The focus
indicator is a white dot that moves up or down showing whether the subject is too close or too far from
the camera. If the focus indicator is centered on the reference tick mark, the eye is in perfect focus. If
the focus indicator reaches either end of the scale, the eye is approximately 0.75 inch (2 cm) out of
focus. As an additional indicator, the images of the eye turn red or green if the eye is significantly out of
focus. Green indicates that the user should move (go) forward to restore good focus, and red indicates
that he should move backward (retreat).

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Use the full camera image (image to the right) to help locate the eye as you adjust the camera’s focus
and angle. Loosen the locking nut on the side of the camera bracket then adjust the camera angle to
point the camera toward the user’s eye. The camera moves up and down, but not side-to-side. Move
the screen if you need to adjust side-to-side position.
Adjust the camera focus by rotating the focus ring until the image is clear. It may be necessary to re-
adjust the camera angle in order to get a clear image of the eye.
1.4 Calibrating the Eyegaze Edge
Before the Eyegaze Edge can track the user’s eye movements and respond accurately, it must “learn”
several optical characteristics of his particular eye. It calibrates to the user’s eye by observing the eye
as he looks at a small icon on the screen as it moves to 5 or 9 locations. The calibration program
predicts the user’s gaze point anywhere on the screen by analyzing the images of the user’s eye when
he is looking at these known points.
1.4.1 Calibration Procedure
It is important to notice which eye the camera is focused on, since the Eyegaze Edge will not be able to
predict accurately if the user switches eyes without recalibrating. The eye image display is like looking
in a mirror: what appears to be the left eye is, in fact, the left eye. What appears to be the right eye is
the right eye.
Left eye images Right eye images
If the user switches eye inadvertently, simply move the screen to the side to again focus on the correct
eye. There is no need to recalibrate if you again capture the correct eye image. Do not refocus the
camera or you will have to calibrate again! Basically, if you don’t touch the camera there’s no need to
recalibrate unless the user wishes to switch eyes! Calibration is measuring the shape of the eye.
Moving away from the screen for whatever reason does not negate the calibration since the eye does
not change shape.
As you position the Eyegaze Edge, pay attention to reflections of light on the eye from sources other
than the system’s LED. Ambient infrared light on the surface of the eye can impact the Edge’s ability to
predict eye fixations accurately, particularly if the reflection sits on top the pupil. If an IR reflection is on

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the pupil or the user’s eyeglasses, change the user’s location in the room or eliminate the source of
unwanted light by closing window shades, turning off the lamp, etc.
At the beginning of the calibration procedure, the screen displays the message:
A caregiver can initiate calibration by touching the “Start Calibration” cell, to bring up the first calibration
icon. (The icon may be a small yellow dot or an animated image.) Alternatively, the user can begin
calibration by looking down at the center of the camera lens to begin calibration. When calibration is
initiated, the system sounds a beep and a calibration icon appears at the first location on the screen. To
calibrate, the user looks at the center of the icon when it appears on the screen, then follows it as it
moves to a new location. He may relax and take his time. The calibration icon will not move until the
user has looked at it in its current position. The speed at which the calibration icon moves from location
to location is determined by how fast the user moves his eyes and adequately fixes his gaze on each
point.
Once the user has looked at the first calibration point on the screen, the camera angle and
focus range can no longer be adjusted. Don’t touch the camera after calibration has begun or at
any time during Eyegaze use!You can move the screen up or down forward or back after
calibration in order to re-position it for Eyegaze use. Adjusting the camera at any time once
calibration has begun, or during Eyegaze operation, will prevent the user from running the Eyegaze
Edge accurately until he calibrates again.

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1.4.2 Simple Calibration
The Simple calibration is designed for users who have difficulty controlling their eye fixations, have poor
vision, or are young children. If you wish to use the Simple calibration, click on its icon on the desktop.
The calibration screen will display:
There are several differences between the Simple and Standard calibrations. The Simple calibration
moves the icon to 5 locations that are typically larger in size. In addition to fewer locations to look at,
the icon will move to a new location more quickly. This shorter time for the user to fix his gaze can be
useful for users whose are not steady, e.g. someone with nystagmus. Additionally, the accuracy
requirement is more lenient. Because it is typically not as accurate as the Standard calibration, it should
only be used when a user is unable to complete a Standard calibration.
1.4.3 Simple Calibration vs. Standard Calibration
Simple Calibration
Standard Calibration
5 Point 9 Points
Larger points Smaller points
Must fix gaze for 1/4 second on each point Must fix gaze for half a second on each point
Acceptance within .66 inches (1.45cm) Acceptance within .25 inches (.63cm)
7 Retakes 5 Retakes
1.4.3 Maintaining Focus During Calibration
To obtain good calibration results, it is desirable to keep the eye in good focus during the calibration
procedure. If the user is significantly out of focus during calibration, a circle appears around the
calibration icon to alert the user to move into focus. If the circle is green, move the screen forward
toward the user. If the circle is red, move the screen away from the user. The color code is a little like a
traffic light:
Green Go forward
Red Retreat (back up)
If the eye is out of focus, the calibration procedure waits for a focused image of the eye before
accepting the calibration point and moving on to the next point. Move the screen (not the camera!) until
the eye image is again clear, or ask the user to move his head back into position.

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1.4.4 Compensating for a Pupil Blocked by the Eyelid
If the user’s upper eyelid covers part of his pupil, the Eyegaze Edge will compensate for the missing
piece of the pupil and continue to predict the user’s gaze point accurately. There is no need to change
the position of the screen. Note: more than half of the pupil must be visible in order for the system to
determine the pupil center and track the eye.
If the lower lid is blocking the pupil the screen may not be positioned optimally, e.g. parallel to the face.
When that occurs, the lower lid may obscure the corneal reflection and the eye cannot be tracked.
Move the screen so it is parallel to the face and you see a corneal reflection, and then start calibration.
If the user is side-lying there is no need to rotate the screen sideways. (Most people prefer to look at a
horizontal screen even when their head is sideways.) The Eyegaze Edge will sort out the blocked pupil
no matter what position the user is in.
1.4.5 Skipping Calibration points
If, during calibration the icon does not move to a new location after the user has attempted to focus on
it for a reasonable amount of time, about 15 or 20 seconds, you can skip that point by pressing fn
(function) and F2 on the manual keyboard. The icon will move to its next location and calibration may
continue. Skipping 2 locations should not overly affect the accuracy, assuming the user can
successfully fix his gaze on the remaining locations. Once skipped, there will be no opportunity to re-
take the skipped point.
1.4.6 Accuracy Display
At the end of the calibration procedure, the Eyegaze Edge displays the accuracy of the calibration that
it just performed. All the calibration icons appear on the screen at once, as well as all the locations of
the user’s gaze points. Red crosses represent the gaze points. There will be no red cross displayed at
a skipped point.
Data displayed on the upper left corner of the screen shows the average accuracy of the gaze point
predictions in inches or centimeters. You can freeze the screen with the data displayed by pressing the
space bar. Pressing the space bar a second time will resume operation. The average accuracy of the
horizontal and vertical components of the gaze points is also displayed. Attaining a calibration accuracy
number of .25 inches (.63 cm) or smaller in the Standard calibration will automatically bring up either
the Eyegaze Main Menu, EyeWorld, or a child’s program.
If the user is doing the Simple calibration, the Eyegaze Edge will automatically bring up the Main Menu,
EyeWorld, or a child’s program when the accuracy is .66 inches (1.45 cm) or smaller. During Eyegaze

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operation, the user may not be able to accurately target very small keys if the system’s calibration is
“loose.” The Standard calibration is always preferable, and will provide the user with the highest
level of accurate Eyegaze key activation. If the user is able to do a standard calibration it should be
used.
1.4.7 Re-taking Calibration Points
If the user does not get a sufficiently accurate calibration, i.e., if the average error is more than .25
inches in the Standard calibration or .66 inches in the Simple calibration, the calibration program
assumes it did not get good readings on one or more of the calibration points. It will automatically
repeat the data collection for the worst-case points. The Eyegaze Edge indicates a point it will retake by
displaying the icon at that point. The user should prepare to look at that icon. After the calibration point
is re-taken, the program readjusts the calibration parameters and re-computes the calibration accuracy.
If a calibration point re-take is less accurate, the system ignores the re-take, and keeps the previous
calibration. It first displays the results of the re-take then the prior better performance is again
displayed. If the accuracy is still not good enough, it will again display a purple, then yellow, circle for
the user to look at. If the accuracy improves enough during one the re-takes, the calibration procedure
is completed, and the Edge automatically displays the Main Menu.
1.4.8 Re-starting the Calibration Procedure
If the calibration procedure is not going well, it can be restarted at any time by pressing the “Re-
calibrate” key (F1) on the manual keyboard.
1.4.9 Terminating the Calibration Procedure
The calibration procedure can be terminated at anytime by pressing the Escape key (Esc) on the
manual keyboard. If the calibration procedure is terminated with an Escape, the Eyegaze Edge
completely ignores any results from that calibration session and returns to the calibration results that
existed prior to that session. Escaping from the calibration procedure is useful any time a good
calibration already exists, and the user does not wish to recalibrate.
1.4.10 Accepting Calibrations
If the user has limited eye control, which hinders his calibration accuracy, you may press the “Accept
Calibration” key (F3) on the manual keyboard to instruct the Edge to accept a calibration of great than
.25 inches. You may accept a calibration at any time after the user completes the original calibration
points, i.e., either during the re-takes or while the screen again displays its message to begin
calibration. It is important to pay attention to the calibration accuracy number being accepted (displayed
in the upper left corner of the screen.)
As a rule of thumb, doubling that calibration number will give you an indication of the size of the keys
the user will be able to accurately target. For example, a calibration of .75 inches means the user will
be able to activate keys 1.5 square inches or larger. In some cases, a user may be able to calibrate
more accurately using the 5-point calibration instead of the 9-point. You may want to try both calibration
procedures to see which gets better results. It is also wise to try calibration on the opposite eye to see if
the results are better.

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1.4.11 Maintaining Eyegaze Accuracy
To maintain accurate Eyegaze operation, the camera must be aimed at the same eye on which the
calibration was performed, and the eye must be in good focus. If the user moves out of focus simply
adjust the screen position until you see the eye image clearly. The camera angle and focus setting
must not be altered after calibration. Re-adjusting the camera angle or focus prevents the system
from accurately predicting where the user is looking; moving the screen to regain focus does not. As
long as you don’t touch the camera the user can move away from the Eyegaze Edge and return later to
resume operation.
As long as you can move the screen to refocus the eye it’s not necessary to recalibrate. If you move
the camera or change the focus the user must recalibrate! If the Eyegaze Edge is not responding
accurately to the user’s eye and it is suspected that the camera focus or angle was inadvertently
changed, recalibrate.
1.4.12 Bringing up the Calibration Program from Other Screens
If the System is in an Eyegaze program, press the “Re-Calibrate” key (F1) on the manual keyboard to
bring up the calibration program. If the user is in a Grid program he must first exit back to Eyegaze
before you press F1.
1.5 Visually Pushing Keys
Note: In Section 1.4, “you” is understood to be the user.
Eyegaze Edge operations occur by visually “pushing” the keys that are displayed on the various
screens. When you look at a key and keep your gaze there for about 1/2-second, the Eyegaze Edge
responds by taking the action associated with that key.
1.5.1 User Feedback: Locator Dot
In our basic Eyegaze programs there are 2 options for the eye-controlled cursor: “Dot in Key”, which
places the cursor at the user’s gaze point or “Dot in Key Center”. In either case the cursor is a very
small red dot. It should be visible but small enough to not be a distraction.
The type of locator dot is selected in the ECS Settings program under Gaze Selection (page 32)
Dot in Key (At user’s Gaze point)

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In this mode, when you look at a key, a small red dot will appear at the location of your eye gaze. When
it is at gaze point, the locator dot may be thought of as a visual cursor that you move around with your
eyes. Generally, there is some slight variation between where a user is looking and where the Eyegaze
Edge predicts that he is looking. If your calibration was accurate to 1/4-inch or better, the system’s
prediction should put the locator dot within the desired key.
The purpose of displaying the locator dot at your gaze point is to a) provide feedback that the Eyegaze
Edge knows you are looking at a key, and b) allow you to make corrections, such as moving back into
clear camera focus. Do not look directly at the dot or you will “push” it off the screen!
Dot in Key Center
In this mode, the Eyegaze Edge will place the cursor in the center of the key you are looking at. While
some users prefer this, you lose the feedback that enables you to correct the key selection if the
predicted key is not your intended choice. While Dot in enables you to feel as if you are just moving the
dot around with your eyes, similar to a manual mouse, Dot in Key Center does not provide
instantaneous feedback to facilitate correction.
Key Flashes
When you leave your gaze within a key long enough to trigger it, the Eyegaze Edge responds not only
by taking the action indicated by the key but also by briefly flashing the key and making a clicking
sound.
1.5.2 Eye World/Grid user feedback
In Grid programs there are several options for user feedback, but not all of them are ideal when using
your eyes. Your system will arrive set with a reasonable choice. Follow instructions in the Grid to
change user feedback.
1.5.3 Gaze Duration
The length of time that a user must leave his gaze within a key in order to trigger it is called the gaze
duration. Typical gaze duration values range between 1/4-second and 2/3-second. As you become a
more competent Eyegaze user, you may wish to reduce the gaze duration so that the system responds
more quickly. A shorter gaze duration, which increases the speed, may be particularly desirable when
typing. Within all the Eyegaze keyboard programs, you may temporarily change the gaze duration by
entering the Keyboard Control screen and visually pressing the gaze duration “UP” or “DOWN” keys.
The gaze duration will return to the system setting upon exiting the program.
An assistant can temporarily change the gaze duration in any Eyegaze program by pressing “Decrease
Gaze Duration” key (F6) or “Increase Gaze Duration” key (F7) on the manual keyboard. F6 decreases
(makes it faster) and F7 increases (makes it slower) the gaze duration in 1/10-second increments.
When changing the gaze duration, a message appears in the upper right corner of the screen showing
the new value for the gaze duration. Again, the gaze duration will return to the system setting upon
exiting whatever program the user is in. The default gaze duration may be permanently changed in the
ECS Settings program. For instructions on setting the system gaze duration, see Section 6.1 “Setting
Gaze Control Parameters.”

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2 EYEGAZE PROGRAMS
Note: In Section 2, “you” is understood to be the user.
2.1 Main Menu
Upon completing the calibration procedure, the Eyegaze
Edge automatically displays its Main Menu. The Main
Menu is the navigational center of the Eyegaze Edge. It
presents a list of various Eyegaze programs and permits
a user to select the desired program. To call up the
program of your choice, visually press the key next to
the program name. When you are finished with a
program, looking at the “Exit” key for that program
restores the Main Menu.
2.2 Phrases
Using a speech synthesizer, the Phrases program allows a person to “speak” regularly used phrases
with a single key activation, eliminating the need to type a whole phrase each time he wishes to speak
it. The Phrases screens use a simple large-key format with 14 phrases and two control keys on each
screen. Looking at a key causes its phrase to be verbalized.
The “Pause” key temporarily deactivated the Phrases keys to avoid inadvertent key activation while
reading the screen choices. Gazing at the Pause key a second time re-starts the eyetracking and
permits key activation. The “Menu” key returns you to the Phrase Selection Menu.
There are nine Phrases screens to choose from on the Phrases Selection menu screen. An assistant
can easily customize both the Phrases screen labels and the spoken phrases to suit your requirements
by using the ECS Settings Program. (See Section 6.8 “Editing the Phrases.)
2.3 Keyboard
The Keyboard program makes it possible to type by looking at keys on a keyboard display. As the keys
are activated, the typed characters appear on the screen above the keyboard. The typed text can be
Image: Main Menu
Image: Phrases Menu
Image: Sample Phrases Screen

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printed, verbalized through a speech synthesizer, or stored as a file for later retrieval. The Keyboard
program functions as a simple word processor.
All Eyegaze keyboards function as single-stroke keyboards. While a manual keyboard requires
simultaneous keystrokes (e.g., the shift key must be held down while typing a capital letter), the
Eyegaze keyboards have a lock feature built into the “shift”, “control” and “alt” keys. Once visually
pressed, these keys stay active and work in conjunction with the next key selection. These locking keys
may be deactivated by visually pressing them a second time.
The Alpha keyboard is a simple, large-key alphabetic keyboard. It has both upper case and lower case
options, as well as a third screen, activated from the AltGr key, with numbers and punctuation. The
Alpha keyboard key dimensions are 1-1/4 inch by 1-1/2 inch.
The Qwerty keyboard has a key layout that is familiar to anyone who has used a standard typewriter or
computer keyboard. Its visual keys are 1-inch square. It also has a third layer of keys that include
various punctuation and editing keys.
Image: Alpha Keyboard Image: Qwerty Keyboard
The abcde keyboard has all of the keys found on a full function computer keyboard. Its letter keys are
in alphabetic order clustered around the space key. The keys on both this keyboard and the Frequency
keyboard are 3/4-inch square.
The Frequency keyboard has all of the features of the abcde keyboard. To provide maximum typing
speed, the letter keys are arranged around a centrally located space key, according to the average
frequency of use of each key. The most commonly used letters (e,s,t,a…) are located directly around
the space key, and the least frequently used letters (x,j,q,z…) are located slightly farther away.
Image: Abcde keyboard Image: Frequency keyboard

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2.3.1 Special Features in the Keyboard Program
Cursor Positioning
To control the position of the cursor within the displayed text use of the following keys:
Arrow keys Moves the cursor right, left, up or down within the
text.
Home (Hom) Moves the cursor to the beginning of the line. If
the Home key is activated twice in succession, the
cursor goes to the beginning of the text after the
second activation.
End Moves the cursor to the end of the line. If the End
key is activated twice in succession the cursor
goes to the end of the text after the second
activation.
Page Up (PgU) Moves the cursor to the top display line. If the
cursor is already on the top display line it moves
the entire display up six lines.
Page Down (PgD) Moves the cursor to the bottom display line. If the
cursor is already on the bottom display line it
moves the entire display down six lines.
Shift right arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next
word.
Shift left arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous
word.
Alt right arrow Moves the cursor 10 spaces to the right.
Alt left arrow Moves the cursor 10 spaces to the left.
Deleting Characters
To delete characters in the text use the following keys:
Backspace (BACK) Deletes the character prior to the cursor.
Delete (DEL) Deletes the character at the cursor.
Paragraph Control
As you are writing or editing text, the Keyboard program’s editor automatically controls the text display
so that no more than 80 characters are displayed on a line. When a paragraph contains more than 80
characters, the editor automatically figures out how many words fit on each line. As you edit the text
within a paragraph, the editor continually readjusts word locations as necessary.
When the editor decides to start a new display line the action is called a “soft” return. You may insert a
“hard” return by looking at the enter key (labeled ENT). The hard return will appear on the screen as the
symbol □, and the cursor will move down to the beginning of the next line to start a new paragraph. You
may delete the hard return by looking at the delete key while the cursor is under the hard return symbol.
Speak Key
You can speak individual paragraphs within the text by activating the “Speak” key (labeled SPK) on the
keyboard. The speech synthesizer will then verbalize the entire paragraph where the cursor presently
resides. To select a paragraph for speech, move the cursor to any position within the desired
paragraph.

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Pause Key
The “Pause” key (labeled PSE) makes it possible for you to look at the keyboard without activating
keys. When you look at the Pause key it will light up. While the Pause key is illuminated, the Eyegaze
Edge will not respond to your gaze, allowing you to look around without activating keys. The Pause key
will remain lit until you look at it a second time to resume key activation.
2.3.2 Keyboard Control Screen
Looking at the “out” key on the keyboard display brings up
the Keyboard Control screen. The Control screen can be
thought of as the menu screen for the Keyboard program,
providing access to all of the functions associated with that
program:
Keyboard Selection Keys
Look at a Keyboard selection key: “alpha”, “qwerty,” “abcde,”
or “freq” to choose a keyboard. Activate the “Type: key to
bring up the selected keyboard.
Save Key
To save text you have typed activate the “Save” key. A “File save” screen then appears, which contains
a keyboard for naming the file you are creating. Type in a file name, then activate the Save or Enter
key.
If you have previously retrieved a file, the name of that retrieved file automatically appears on the File
Save screen. If you have edited (changed) the text and wish to replace the old file with the newly edited
version, activate the Save key without typing in a new file name. If you wish to save the new text in a
different file, type in the new file name and then activate the Save key. To exit the Save File screen,
look at the Out key. You can exit the screen without saving a file.
Retrieve Key
To retrieve a file, activate the “Retrieve” key. A list of all your text files appears. Look at a key next to
the name of the file you want to retrieve. After you retrieve a file, the program automatically returns to
the Keyboard Control screen. Look at “Type” to bring up the file on a keyboard screen, where you can
edit or add to the retrieved text.
It is possible to retrieve a file and add it into text that is already on the screen. While you are on the
keyboard screen, place the cursor at the location on your text where you want the retrieved text to be
inserted, then:
1) Look at the Out to got to the Keyboard control screen, and activate the Retrieve key.
2) From the Retrieve screen select the file you wish to add into your text. As soon as you make
your selection the retrieved text will be inserted just ahead of the cursor you previously placed.
The cursor will be under the first character of the inserted text.
Deleting files: To delete a file, first go to the Retrieve File screen, which displays all your saved files.
There are three steps involved in deleting a file:
1) Activate the “Delete” key. The key turns red, and the screen is re-labeled “Delete File”.
2) Look at the key next to the file you wish to delete. The file key turns yellow.
Image: Keyboard Control Screen

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3) Activate the Delete key again. The file is now deleted, and the screen reverts to the Retrieve
screen.
If you start the delete procedure by mistake, or if at any point during the procedure you decide not to
delete a file, you can stop the delete procedure by looking at the exit key. Also, any variation from the
above procedure will cause the screen to revert to the Retrieve mode without deleting a file.
Clear/Restore Key
To erase all text from the screen, look at the “Clear” key on the Keyboard Control screen. When the
Clear key is activated it will change to “Restore”. If you accidentally clear the text, or if you exit from the
Keyboard program without saving the text you just wrote, it is possible to restore that text. Whenever
you clear the text or exit the Keyboard program, it automatically saves the text in a special backup file.
When the key is in the “Restore” state you can bring back that last unsaved text by looking at the
Restore key.
Gaze Duration Keys
To make the speed of key activations faster when you type, look at the “down” key. Each time the key
is activated it will decrease the time you must fix your gaze on a key by .03 seconds. To slow the speed
of key activations look at the “up” key. Each time it is activated the amount of time you must look at a
key to type will increase by .03 seconds. An assistant can permanently change the default gaze
duration for the Eyegaze keyboards by using the ECS Settings program. (See “Special Gaze Duration:
in Section 6.7 “Setting Up the Keyboards”.)
Type Key
Looking at the “Type: key will bring the selected keyboard up on the screen.
Print Key
If you have a printed connected to your Eyegaze Edge, activating the “Print” key will print out the
document you’ve been typing.
Speak Key
Activating the Speak key on the Keyboard Control screen brings up a special speech control screen.
Looking at the “Speak full text” key will verbalize the entire text. “Speak paragraph” will verbalize the
paragraph where the cursor resides. The arrow keys move the cursor up, down, left, and right. The
Home key (labeled Hom) moves the cursor to the start of the paragraph. The “End” key moved the
cursor to the end of the paragraph. “Page up” (labeled PgU) and “Page down” (labeled PgD) move the
cursor up or down 6 lines.
Speech Mode Key
The Eyegaze keyboards have three Speech Modes: “Off,” “Character,” and “Word”. In the “Off” mode
the speech synthesizer remains silent until the Speak key is activated. In “character” mode the
synthesizer verbalizes each letter as it is typed. In “Word” mode it speaks each word as it is typed. In
the “Word” mode, the speech synthesizer assumes you have finished a word when you type a space or
punctuation mark. These settings are rarely used. An assistant may permanently change the Speech
Mode by using the ECS Settings Program. (See “Default Keyboard” in Section 6.7 “Setting Up the
Keyboards”.)
2.4 Eyegaze Edge Links for Computer Access (option)
The Eyegaze Edge Links allow the Eyegaze Edge to become a wireless keyboard and mouse interface
for your Windows-based PC, Mac or Linux system. Two Eyegaze Edge Links, similar in appearance to
USB sticks, are used: one is plugged into the Eyegaze Edge and the other into the computer you wish

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to control. When you type on a Computer Access keyboard, the characters you type will appear at the
top of the Eyegaze keyboard screen as well as into your selected program on the computer you are
interfacing. As you are writing a document it is not necessary to continuously look at your computer’s
monitor to review the text. The last 8 to 10 lines you have typed will appear above the keyboard display
on the Eyegaze control screen.
In the Computer Access program, the various special keys (Function, Control, Alt, Command, etc.) on
the Eyegaze keyboard will take on the meanings defined by the application program you are running on
your computer.
Looking at the “Out” key brings up the Keyboard Control screen, which allows you to select alternative
keyboards, adjust the gaze duration for faster or slower key activation, print, clear the screen of text or
exit back to the Main Menu. The Keyboard Control screens on the Computer Access program are
operated the same as those in the Keyboard program. (See Section 2.3.2 “Keyboard Control Screen”.)
The “Clear” key will clear the text off of the Eyegaze screen, but not off of the screen on your computer.
The “Print” key will print the text as it appears on the Eyegaze screen, not as it appears on your
computer. (Use the print command for the program you are running on your PC or Mac to print its text).
2.4.1 Mouse Control in the Computer Access Program
Visual mouse control of your PC or Mac is done through the
Mouse Control screen. The user brings up the Mouse Control
screen by activating the “Mou” key on any one of the Eyegaze
keyboards in the Computer Access program.
Positioning the Cursor
The cursor on your computer’s monitor is put into motion by selecting one of the eight arrow keys
labeled “Move Mouse” on the Eyegaze system’s Mouse Control screen. The direction the cursor will
move (up, down, right, left, and four diagonals, which are not labeled) is determined by which key you
activate.
There are two ways to control the cursor motion: the Speed and the Step modes. A user switches
between the Speed and Step modes by activating the Mode key on the Mouse Control screen.
Activating the mode key toggles the mode between Speed and Step modes. The name of the mode
that is active at any time is displayed above the Mode key.
Speed Mode
To put your computer’s cursor in motion, look at the Move Mouse key that corresponds to the direction
you want the cursor on your computer to go. When the directional key is activated it will turn blue.
When it turns blue, look over at your computer’s monitor and watch the cursor until it gets to a point
where you want it to stop. Immediately look back at the Eyegaze screen to stop the cursor. The entire
Eyegaze screen has become a giant STOP button. The cursor will not move again until you activate
another arrow key.
To adjust the speed of the mouse cursor, select one of the six keys labeled “Cursor Speed / Step Size.”
Key 1 gives the slowest speed, allowing the cursor positioning to a single pixel. Key 6 gives the fasters
speed, allowing the cursor to traverse the entire screen in little more than a second. After selecting the
cursor speed, the value for the speed remains the same until you change it by selecting another Cursor
Image: Mouse Control Screen

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Speed key, or by exiting the Computer Access program. The Eyegaze Edge leaves the selected speed
highlighted so you can always see what its present value is.
Step Mode
If you have difficulty moving your eyes quickly from one screen to another, select Step Mode. In the
Step Mode, whenever the user activates an arrow key, the mouse cursor on your computer moves a
fixed distance and stops automatically. To make the cursor move, you activate the arrow key indicating
the direction you want.
The distance the cursor travels is controlled by selecting one of the six keys labeled “Cursor Speed /
Step Size” (the same keys used to control the cursor speed when the mouse is in the speed mode).
Key 1 gives the smallest step and key 6 the largest.
Clicking Mouse Buttons
Once you have positioned the cursor where you want it on your computer, mouse clicks are
implemented by activating one of the six “Click Mouse” keys on the Mouse Control screen.
The left column of Click Mouse keys corresponds to the left button on a hand-controlled mouse, and the
right column of keys corresponds to the right button on a hand-controlled mouse.
Double Clicking
To double-click a mouse button (or buttons); activate one of the Eyegaze keys in the second row of the
“Click Mouse” keys. A single Eyegaze command causes the mouse to double-click.
Click and Hold Operations
In a manual click-and-hold operation, the user moves the cursor to an object he wants to move,
presses a mouse button, moves the cursor while holding the button down, and releases the button
when the cursor is at the location where he wishes to drop the object. The Eyegaze System allows the
equivalent operation with eye control.
First, move the mouse cursor to the object you wish to move. To initiate the click-and-hold operation,
visually activate one of the keys in the bottom row of the “Click Mouse” Keys. At this point the Eyegaze
Edge “presses” the mouse button and “holds” it down. To indicate that the button is being held down,
the Eyegaze Edge eliminates all the other mouse-button keys from the display. You then move the
mouse cursor to the desired location on your computer’s screen, using the arrow keys on the Eyegaze
screen. When the mouse cursor is at the location where you wish to release the object, look back to the
Eyegaze screen and activate the remaining mouse key. The Eyegaze Edge then “releases” the object.
Upon completion of the click-and-hold operation, the Mouse Control screen returns to its normal
appearance, i.e. the other mouse keys reappear.
Return to Keyboard
To exit the Mouse Control screen and return to the keyboard, look at the “Type” key.
2.4.2 Assistant Interaction
An assistant can perform keyboard and mouse operations on your PC or MAC by manually operating
its keyboard and mouse. Manual keystrokes and mouse operations on your computer can be
interspersed with mouse commands from the Eyegaze Edge; your computer will respond to both inputs.
The assistant may exit the Mouse Control screen by manually pressing the Escape key on the Eyegaze
Edge keyboard.

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2.4.3 Some Cautions
Some computer programs and operating systems have commands that respond to combinations of
keyboard and mouse inputs. For example, mouse clicks may evoke different program responses if the
SHIFT or ALT key is held down when the mouse button is clicked. It is possible to perform most of
these operations on your PC through the Eyegaze Edge. To implement the above example, you would:
a) start in one of the Eyegaze keyboard screens,
b) set the keyboard shift state by visually activating the shift or shift-lock key (the shift key lights up),
c) go into the Mouse Control screen, and
d) activate a mouse-click key.
While it is possible to perform these kinds of operations intentionally, it is also possible to do them
unintentionally. To minimize such unintentional operations, it is recommended that you check that no
shift states on the keyboard screen are active before entering the Mouse Control screen. If any shift
state is active, i.e. if its key is lit up, looking at the key will turn it off.

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3 GRID 3 PROGRAM (EYEWORLD)
The optional Grid 3 program from Smartbox is fully integrated into the Eyegaze Edge. From the
Eyegaze Main Menu screen looking at the Grid 3 button will take you into the Grid. EyeWorld 3, our
adult Grid program, has training videos accessible within the program so a user can learn the features
of operation at his leisure.
The Grid 3 program includes a pack of training cards for caregivers to refer to if they want to create or
edit screens.
3.1 Updating the Grid
It is typically not necessary to update your Grid software.
3.2 Email account Settings
Grid 3 allows you to send and receive email using your existing email account.
Click on the Menu bar, then Settings, Accounts and Email.
Click on the drop down menu, and select your email provider.
If you have a Google (Gmail), Microsoft (Outlook.com) or Yahoo account, choose this from the
menu.
Just enter your username and password, and click Test to verify the settings.
Your email will now be available in any grid set for this user which contains an email page.
3.2.1 Gmail specific settings
Google require additional settings to be active on your account before Grid 3 will connect.
Before proceeding disable 2-Step Verification if enabled.