Often times we discuss the possibility of advancements in technology for the purpose of entertainment rather than function. Even though it may seem as if the latest Snapchat filter update will greatly impact your life, the reality is that it will not ultimately change the entire way you interact with the world in the long-term. For individuals with motor neurone diseases, the potential for communication through eye-gaze technology is more than simply putting on the latest Google Glass to record a cool fireworks show. For some, it can be the only thing keeping a person from feeling trapped in their own deteriorating body.
ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease progressively shuts down the function of voluntary muscles in the body. This disease attacks the nerve cells that can be found in the brain and spinal cord. Although there has been some breakthrough research in recent light of funding through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the only treatments available are limited to slowing down symptoms rather than curing them completely. Because of this loss of voluntary function, eventually individuals with these types of disease are limited to a small range of movement. Because the ability to blink or move the eye muscles can be one of the last controllable body parts, technology has been focused on picking up these seemingly minuscule movements and translating them through a speech-generating device.
A famous example of this can be seen in the life of Stephen Hawking, arguably one of the most brilliant scientific minds currently alive today. But even individuals who are not well-known published theoretical physicists still deserve access to express their uninhibited mind to those around them. As technology improves, so do the possibilities of communication as it expands to allow individuals suffering from a motor neurone disease to be able to speak, write, compose music and even paint through personalized software and controls. This technology is rapidly evolving through open-source and lower cost options but there are still some difficulties, including the word per minute rate that is able to be captured. This can inhibit normal conversation rhythms or even pose the risk for “brain hacking” should someone’s system become compromised. Ultimately, these types of programs will only become more fine tuned as time goes on and be able to provide vital information and a sense of identity for users who need it most.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/16/eyes-have-it-motor-neurone-disease-technology-talk-blink
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/eye-face-eyebrow-eyelid-18809/
