Model-based head pose-free gaze estimation for assistive communication

•Employing video-based eye-gaze tracking as an assistive communication tool.•A geometrical model of the face and eyes is proposed to estimate the eye-gaze.•The challenge of estimating the eye-gaze under free head movements is addressed.•The proposed method requires minimal user calibration prior to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Computer vision and image understanding 2016-08, Vol.149, p.157-170
Main Authors: Cristina, Stefania, Camilleri, Kenneth P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Augmentative and alternative communication
Cameras
Cerebral palsy
Eye movements
Eye-gaze tracking
Head motions
Head movement
Head pose-free
Laptop computers
Model-based
Motors
Three dimensional models
Tracking
Videooculography
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Summary:•Employing video-based eye-gaze tracking as an assistive communication tool.•A geometrical model of the face and eyes is proposed to estimate the eye-gaze.•The challenge of estimating the eye-gaze under free head movements is addressed.•The proposed method requires minimal user calibration prior to gaze estimation.•The method is evaluated on real data collected from a subject with cerebral palsy. The significance of employing video-based eye-gaze tracking as an assistive tool has long been recognised, especially in the domain of human–computer interaction to assist physically challenged individuals in operating a computer by the eye movements alone. Nonetheless, several operating conditions typically associated with existing eye-gaze tracking methods, relating to constraints on the head movement and prolonged user-calibration prior to gaze estimation, need to be alleviated in order to better assist individuals with motor disabilities. In this paper, we propose a method that is based on a cylindrical head and spherical eyeballs model to estimate the three-dimensional eye-gaze under free head movement from a single camera integrated into a notebook computer, alleviating any assumptions of stationary head movement without requiring prolonged user co-operation prior to gaze estimation. The validity of the proposed method has been investigated on a publicly available data set and real-life data captured through the voluntary collaboration of a group of normal subjects and a person suffering from cerebral palsy.
ISSN:1077-3142
1090-235X
DOI:10.1016/j.cviu.2016.02.012