The DynaVox EyeMax System is composed of 2 parts: a DynaVox Vmax and a DynaVox EyeMax Accessory.

The EyeMax is created and manufactured by DynaVox in our Pittsburgh, PA facility. Working with EyeTech Digital Systems (makers of the TM3 – formerly called the QuickGlance) we’ve licensed part of their software and incorporated it into our design.

The EyeMax has been designed to minimize interference from external IR. It does this by strobing the IR illuminators to overwhelm other light sources for a very short period of time. Normally you do not need to take any special measures. However, keep in mind that an outside window directly behind the monitor can sometimes cause issues if bright sunlight is coming through. This is because it creates an additional ‘reflection point’ within the eyes, and is therefore a more pertinent issue than being in sunlight outdoors. Moving the system/user/light source to any other position should alleviate the issue.

This situation is easy to trouble-shoot. It is easy to pull up the camera image of the user on the Vmax. If you can see a bright reflection from a window (or other object) which partially covers the pupil, that may be the source of the any access problems that the user may be experiencing. Adjusting the device or person to any other angle will alleviate the issue.

The Vmax display itself can be hard to see outdoors. We have successfully used the EyeMax in sunlight conditions up to point where the Vmax display is still visible.

The EyeMax does not need the user to “do” or “wear” anything. Simply sit in front of it, go through an initial calibration and the user is ready to go.

We have used a button size of 1” x 1” as the ‘minimum size’ for objects that we intend to be selected via the Eye Gaze method. Some users will be able to routinely access objects that are of a much smaller size, and some will need to utilize pages with objects of a larger size. There is a extensive amount of pre-existing content and grid sizes to choose from to meet a given user’s access ability, and powerful methods for customizing targets to the needs of the user within the software.

The only item that the EyeMax will work with is the DynaVox Vmax. It will not work with any other device – including the V, DV4, 3100, etc. It will not work with other SGD devices, nor with any commercial computer/laptop/tablet item.

EyeMax + Vmax = the DynaVox EyeMax System. No other combination exists.

Yes. It can very quickly be adapted to a user’s or evaluation center’s changing needs.

Yes, including the environmental control features (built-in). This will be similar to what a user can do with a Headmouse. For those with excellent eye-control, they will be able to use other applications by controlling the mouse cursor with their eyes. On-screen keyboards allow users the same amount of control to activate and utilize such applications as they will have over the communication pages within the Series 5 Software.

No. There is actually no focus control on the EyeMax. It is pre-focused to work in the standard range of 17 to 28 inches from the display. The user does not have to adjust the camera, which is placed behind a smooth section of high-quality IR glass.

Yes. The Vmax must be at least 17 inches from the user’s eyes and oriented properly. Strong vibrations will not allow the EyeMax to properly track the eyes, so there may be cases when it can not be used while the wheelchair is in motion.

The EyeMax has its own battery & does not draw power from the Vmax. The battery in the EyeMax is designed to last at least as long as the battery life of a Vmax – over 6 hours of continuous use, and well over 8 hours of non-continuous use.

The EyeMax ships attached to a special Vmax replacement battery door. Also included are:

1. Instructions for setting up and using the EyeMax accessory.
2. DVD with seven How-To videos related to Eye Tracking and certain features of the Vmax device.
3. 90W power supply
4. A CD that can "open" a closed device and then close it again. This is required because a password will need to be entered into the Vmax if the EyeMax ships separately.

They will ship together, but not attached. This is due to the following:

1. The battery can not ship installed in the Vmax, and the EyeMax attaches by connecting to the Vmax battery door.
2. We expect a number of users to want to use the Vmax ‘as is’ when they receive the full system, and attach the EyeMax at a later date. For that reason, even oif ordered together, we will ship the Vmax as we do to any customer – with the handle and leg attached, and its 60W power supply/cable. (This power cable is not needed when the EyeMax is attached, as the EyeMax 90W power supply/cable powers the entire system).

Black. The special Vmax battery door for the EyeMax only comes in Black as well.

Dwell Only
The user will dwell on an object for the set period of time before it activates.

Dwell/Blink combined
This will work the same as ‘Dwell Only’ – except if the user blinks then it will activate more quickly.

Blink Only
No matter how long you Dwell, nothing will activate until the user blinks.

Select with Switch
This is similar to ‘Blink Only’ – Dwell does nothing. The activation is with an external switch.

The EyeMax uses one of the two USB ports on the Vmax, leaving one USB port available for other uses. Note that the keyboard that ships with every Vmax contains two USB ports as well.

To have full control of the system, the user should be able to move their eyes enough to look up, down, left and right and have adequate vision to view the screen. The users must be able to gaze on all areas of the 12.1-inch Vmax display that is about 24 inches in front of the user’s eyes. The user must be able to focus on one spot for at least a brief period of time. People within certain spectrums of the following conditions have the ability to operate an EyeMax: ALS, MS, brain injury, people living with the effects of stroke, Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injuries, and others.

Continuous, uncontrolled head movement can make EyeMax operation difficult, as it may not allow the user’s eyes to focus on one spot for a long enough period to activate the desired object. Those with nystagmus may also have difficulty operating an eye gaze system. This is a constantly involuntary horizontal, vertical, or rotary movement of the eyeballs. It may lead to the inability of users to fix their gaze long enough to make selections.

Yes, some prescribed medications have potential side effects that can make it difficult to operate EyeMax. For example, anticonvulsants (seizure drugs) can cause nystagmus and blurred vision.

Yes. Users with vision in one eye can use the EyeMax. This is true both for Users that only have one physical eye, and also for users which actually have two eyes but require the system to only track one due to situations such as blindness in one eye, or because their eyes are not aligned due to strabismus. Also, it is not uncommon for some people described as having ‘locked-in’ syndrome to have difficulties in moving both eyes together. For them, the available option within the Series 5 Software of having the EyeMax track only one eye is a benefit. You can set the system to track a single eye or both eyes sporadically, making it unnecessary to wear any type of eye patch or covering.

A person with severe cerebral palsy that is able to maintain a relatively stable head position, either on their own or supported by a head rest, and who do not have significant eye control problems, can do quite well with an EyeMax System. However, “Over 40-75% of children with cerebral palsy have some form of a visual problem or impairment.” (Black, P.D., 1980). Direct field loss (not being able to see straight ahead, and only having peripheral vision) and severe oculomotor issues are the two visual impairments that are the most difficult to overcome for successful use of an eye gaze system.

Yes. However, sometimes reflections off of glasses may cause an issue – this is especially true with ‘bright wire-rim glasses’. Typically, this can quickly be corrected by tilting the glasses to different angles to move the reflections away from the pupil. The more curvature on the front surface of the glasses, the better off you will be since the reflections will be smaller. Bi-focals may also cause an issue if the user switches between which section of the glasses through which they view the display. Certain protective coatings may also be an issue.

The system is designed to accommodate a range of pupil sizes. Dilated pupils are typically not an issue as long as they were within the generous system limits.

Though the EyeMax works very well with this condition it can pose a problem for some that have a severe case. Using the 16 point calibration lessens the chance of the eye tracker being inaccurate. If someone uses a full 16 point calibration (instead of the other available options of 5 and 9 point calibrations), the software does a good job of correcting for this condition and increases their chance of success with the EyeMax.

No, not with proper use of the system. However, there are some precautions that the user should take. There are two types of strain that can occur from using eye-tracking devices: neck strain and eye strain. If you notice discomfort, pain, or fatigue in either of these areas, stop using EyeMax and rest until you feel well again. The length of time that a person can use the EyeMax before feeling strain or fatigue varies from person to person. You need to listen to your body and rest when it tells you. This is true for all eye-tracking systems, and for all computer monitor users. Recommendations for alleviating such monitor eye strain.

Trying out an eye-tracking system may initially be fatiguing to a new user. This may be because they tend strain their eyes to reach and concentrate upon each target until they become more relaxed in the operation of the system. A typical user shortly gets used to eye-tracking and their use of the system will soon become less fatiguing.

No. The EyeMax contains Light Emitting Diodes that emit light in the near infrared (NIR) spectra. This type of IR light occurs naturally in sunlight and in light from incandescent lamps. There are several national and international organizations that provide guidelines for human exposure to optical radiation and recommend exposure limits for the eye and skin. The most prominent are the: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)1-2 in North America and the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP, 1997). In the European Union, there is an Optical Radiation Directive that employs the ICNIRP exposure limits in the workplace. Other organizations recommend product-safety emission limits (ANSI, 2005, 2000, 2007; CIE, 2002; CENELEC, 2002; IEC, 2007; CDRH, 1995). Currently, there are two sets of different types of product safety standards that apply to the use of lamps—including solid-state lamps (LED’s) worldwide. These are:

• The CIE Lamp Safety Standard: CIE Standard S009/E-2002, Photobiological Safety of Lamps and Lamp Systems.
• The EN 60825-1 Laser Product Safety Standard

The maximum level possible with the EyeMax in any condition setting never gets close to the emission limits set by these standards. A person using the EyeMax during regular operation is exposed to less than 0.1% of the accepted long-time exposure according to EN 50825-1/A1-A2. This exposure is also well within the safety guidelines given in the book 1996 TLVs and BEIs by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.