The EagleEyes eye mouse

This seems to be the week for optical tech. In the same vein as Wednesday's iCare system, Mass High Tech reports on Boston College's EagleEyes device which lets users with disabilities control a computer using sheer eye movement (there are some other similar setups out there). To work, the EagleEyes requires you to strap on five surface electrodes (yeah, like the scary ones used on your doc's EKG machine) which are placed above the user's face, surrounding his or her eyes. The sensors detect the user's eye movement, sending the signal to an amplifier, which in turn moves the mouse pointer on the computer screen. There's also a mini version where everything except the electrodes fit in a small box, and that runs off of a 9-volt battery and connects to a USB port.
Apparently getting the hang of it takes hours of practice, but for some people it's the only way they can use a computer and get online.