Eye-Gaze-Enabled Assistive Robotic Stamp Printing System for Individuals with Severe Speech and Motor Impairment

Robotics is a trailblazing technology that has found extensive applications in the field of assistive aids for individuals with severe speech and motor impairment (SSMI). This article describes the design and development of an eye gaze-controlled user interface to manipulate the robotic arm. User studies were reported to engage users through eye gaze input to select stamps from the two designs and select the stamping location on cards using three designated boxes present in the User Interface. The entire process, from stamp selection to stamping location selection, is controlled by eye movements. The user interface contains the print button to initiate the robotic arm that enables the user to independently create personalized stamped cards. Extensive user interface trials revealed that individuals with severe speech and motor impairment showed improvements with a 33.2% reduction in the average time taken and a 42.8% reduction in the standard deviation for the completion of the task. This suggests the effectiveness and potential to enhance the autonomy and creativity of individuals with SSMI, contributing to the development of inclusive assistive technologies.