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AACNotes: Eyegaze on a mac

Eyegaze on a Mac! The current low-down;

##The short answer: Its not possible###

##The slightly longer answer: Use eyegaze on a Windows PC then control a Mac from it or look at a EyeTribe##

###1.0 Eyetribe###

The EyeTribe does have a simple mouse emulation built in. Its really requiring some better mouse emulation software - and the accuracy isn't great. But it does work on a mac. If you do want to use it have a look at using it alongside Dwell Click and/or LayoutKitchen.

###1.1 Teamviewer (or alternatives)###

This is a super easy - install the free software (http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx) on both machines and double click on your mac from your PC. You get a screen to your Mac which you can go full full-screen with.

  • Pros: You don't need to be next to your mac and you can really see your mac on your PC.
  • Problem 1: The teamviewer system does not allow you to map mac keys correctly to the Mac. So doing things like a screenshot (Apple, Shift, 3) are nigh on impossible.
  • Problem 2: Its over TCP/IP (i.e. the internet) so both machines need to be online, accessible and its not the quickest. Often teamviewer is blocked within education networks.
  • Problem 3: This isn't a mac.

###1.2 Liberator.###

The liberator devices all support outputting text (and mouse commands) from one machine to another and its over bluetooth - so machines just need to be near each other. Its fair to say it works brilliantly. There are a range of pagesets you can already use for computer access and you can make your own fairly easily.

  • Pros: Solves the teamviewer keyboard problem and you can continue to use your language package on your device.
  • Problem 2: You need to have a liberator system
  • Problem 3: You will need to be next to the machine. Its obviously not a mac..

###1.3 MacroServer (Mind express)###

Like the liberator system Jabbla has the MacroServer plugin that works with its MindExpress software. There is a server for MacroServer on the Mac available (not supported by Jabbla its fair to say but I can vouch that it works) here: https://github.com/willwade/MacroServerMac#readme

  • Pros: You can control the mouse, (correctly control) keyboard and send batches of commands using the system (e.g. opening up applications and sending mail for example)
  • Problem 1: Like the Teamviewer solution you need to be on a net connection - but with this it can be just on a local network (not connected to the internet).
  • Problem 2: You will need to be next to the machine. Its obviously not a mac..
  • Problem 3: You need MindExpress. If you want to do it in the Grid or Communicator or just a standard PC let me know - I have something in the works..

###1.4 LC Edge - S -keys###

A bit like the MacroServer solution but over a serial connection (LC have it working over bluetooth). Works but you will need to dig around for the software.. This page says its available but the link is dead: http://www.eyegaze.com/support/download-microsoft-skeys/ You can find an archive of it here: https://web.archive.org/web/20090911202828/http://wwwx.cs.unc.edu/~gb/wp/blog/2008/01/30/serialkeys-for-os-x

(An aside: It uses the GIDEI protocol devised by Trace:http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/gidei/gidei.htm Its an OK protocol but it won't deal with unicode. I'm not sure what S-Keys does about this)

  • Pros: No net connection needed. Wireless with Bluetooth
  • Problem: You need an LCEdge eyegaze system..
  • Problem: Its not a mac..
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