Eye-controlled computer gaming conference

De Montfort University Leicester will be hosting a world-first conference on using eye movement technology to play computer games.

Entitled 'Gaze-based Creativity, Interacting with Games and Online Communities', the event will include a key note address by Dr. Andrew Duchowski, a leading researcher in the area of eye-tracking technology who is based at Clemson University in the USA.

This year marks the third annual conference organised by COGAIN (COmmunication by GAze INteraction), and the first time that it has been held at DMU. Previous events have been held in Copenhagen and Turin.

"Gaze interaction software can open up a whole new world of gaming for disabled and able-bodied people alike," said Howell Istance, principal lecturer in DMU's School of Computing and member of COGAIN and the conference chair.

Speakers from across Europe and North America will discuss the potential of eye-tracking technology for helping people with disabilities.

Among the areas that will be considered during the conference are: gaze-based interaction with virtual worlds; gaze and creativity; text entry by means of gaze; innovations in eye-tracking systems; and gaze and personal mobility control.

"Computer games have become such a large part of the entertainment culture, and making use of where the player is looking has yet to be exploited. Disabled users should be able to fully engage with this form of entertainment and gaze communications offers a means to realise this," Istance said.