SmartGaze is a project that has received funding through the MCST FUSION Smart Cities programme. The primary objective of the project is to exploit the natural gaze interaction abilities of human beings with devices in their environment. The ultimate aim is to empower individuals with mobility impairments, enabling them to control various devices, such as air conditioners or television sets, by means of eye gaze tracking technology.

During our team’s participation in this year’s Science in the City (SITC) event, we elucidated the diverse modalities of eye gaze tracking. The vision-based approach, commonly referred to as videooculography (VOG), involves the real-time processing of a sequence of images capturing the subject’s eyes, to determine the user’s point of gaze. Alternatively, electrodes can be strategically positioned around the user’s eyes to record the electrical activity generated during eye movements, a method known as electrooculography (EOG).  Subsequently, advanced signal processing techniques are employed to analyse these signals and determine where the user is looking at.

During the recent exhibit at SITC, both children and adults had the opportunity to experience first-hand the capabilities of eye-gaze tracking technology by using it to type with their eyes. The team behind SmartGaze is now focussing its efforts to eliminate the requirement for a traditional computer screen interface. Instead, the goal is to enable individuals to employ eye gaze tracking, as captured through EOG, to seamlessly control the devices in their immediate environment. This novel approach entails directing one’s gaze towards the target device and, once aligned, executing simple eye gestures to manipulate its various functions.

This innovative endeavour will empower individuals who lack the requisite fine motor skills to operate conventional remote controls or touch screen interfaces, offering them an alternative means of control that fosters greater independency and autonomy in their daily lives.

Photo from left to right: Mr Matthew Mifsud (Research Associate), Mr Salah Ad-Din Ahmed Youbi (Research Support Officer), Dr Ing. Nathaniel Barbara (Technical lead), Dr Tracey Camilleri (Project Coordinator). Participation of some of the team members during Science in the City 2023.

For updates on the project please visit the below Facebook page: 

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