Chair control via eye-tracking computer

[ThrivingWithALS]

I will soon be moving from my BM2 chair into a rehab chair with a full range of motorized seat adjustments, as I finally need more upper body support and automated legrests/seatback/tilt/rise. Basically, I plan to do more sitting and writing, and far less driving. My hands are failing.

I already use an eyegaze computer for all of my writing, since using a traditional keyboard and mouse has become difficult. So I am thinking about using the same eyegaze computer to control the chair. I'm not sure that I have much interest in actually driving the chair via eye tracking (although I will probably be unable to resist experimenting with doing so once I have the capability). My primary goal is merely to be able to adjust and re-adjust my own seating position throughout the day via the eyegaze computer while I am parked.

My eyegaze computer is a Tobii dynavox i-15+, which is just a Windows 10 PC with built-in eye tracking cameras, on-screen keyboard and mouse controls, wifi, bluetooth, and usb ports. Given its built-in bluetooth, I read with interest the 2014 thread on this forum regarding bluetooth remote control of just about any chair having a PGDT joystick pod (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4479).

That thread described an android app and WoodyGB's custom bluetooth hardware interface to the chair's joystick pod. Assuming I could replace the android app with a Windows 10 app (perhaps BlueDuin?), this might be just what I am looking for. I guess I could run an android emulator on Windows, such as Bluestacks or Windroy, and then just use the full solution described in the above thread, but I would prefer to go with a native Windows app if possible. I might even write one if I can make the time.

Before I embark on this project, has anyone already done this? Any suggestions or concerns with what I have in mind?

I should probably mention that I also saw the thread on eyedrivomatic, but that seems like a far less elegant solution. Besides, the company appears to have shut down or at least temporarily halted distribution.

[gcebiker]

Hi,
Woody's controller interacts with the Joystick directly, essentially faking the inputs to get the desired result.

Depending on the chair and electronics you have/will have, it may already have eye control of the various actuators...would be bonkers if they left it out.

If it has been left out and the chair controls have an AUX input, and the Eye Drive has an AUX output linked to an on screen icon the user is able to adjust.
It should be relatively simple to wire the too together.

Do you know what control systems are on your new chair ?
Make / Model Number or picture ?

[ThrivingWithALS]

I haven't yet selected my new chair, but I have definitely looked into the various chairs' native capabilities to support what I have in mind. Unless I have missed something, none of the chair manufacturers knowingly support remote control of any kind. I suspect that potential legal liability is the concern. Once you enable any kind of non-joystick control, all sorts of disasters become foreseeable. So, I believe I am on my own to find a way to control the chair via eyegaze (which is equivalent to saying a way to control the chair via a Windows PC).

Depending on the chair, I could probably communicate via usb on the PC to aux on the chair, but I would prefer not to add more tethers to my life. Thus my thinking about bluetooth.

[gcebiker]

Wireless is great and has a place but ...
you also need to open the chair to attach the interface, potentially disrupting any warranty / service agreements.

As far as i know, we mod our chairs that are out of service agreement or that we own.

R-Net controllers have a button actuator system, which may keep things simple for now, if your ALS permits the use of such an interface.
http://sunrise.pgdrivestechnology.com/m ... 302-03.pdf

https://www.magicmobility.com.au/wheelc ... -controls/