Accent devices ship with two software options: Empower and NuVoice. For information on how to use eye tracking with NuVoice software, see Calibrate and Set Up Eye Tracking in NuVoice.
Starting Eye Tracking in Empower
Eye Tracking appears as a selection only if you have an eye tracking module connected to your device.
To use eye movement to control your device, go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Eye Tracking.
The Eye Tracking window displays the positioning guide with calibration and eye tracking settings.
A Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown appears at the top of the screen.
Once you configure eye tracking as the access method for a user, eye tracking is active and all settings saved for that user take effect immediately.
Recommendation: While the user is getting used to eye tracking, take frequent breaks to rest the user’s eyes and relax his or her concentration.
Using the Positioning Guide
When you select Eye Tracking from the Access Methods window, the Eye Tracking window displays the positioning guide with calibration and eye tracking settings.
Use the positioning guide to make sure the eye tracking module is registering the user’s eyes. Green indicates good positioning and red indicates poor positioning. When two medium green dots are displayed and stable, the user is within the positioning box and ready to calibrate.
Note: The dots do not need to be in the center of the box; the system is registering the user’s eyes as long as the dots are green.
If the user closes one eye or it is obstructed, the corresponding dot disappears.
If the user moves farther away or closer, the dots decrease or increase in size. The dots turn red if the user moves too far back, too close, or too far off to the side. The tracking box shows the user’s distance from the device.
When the user is positioned correctly, “Ready to calibrate” appears.
Calibrating Eye Tracking
Calibration is the process by which eye tracking adjusts to the eyes of the person using it. It helps determine where the user is looking on the screen.
When the positioning guide shows “Ready to calibrate”, select Calibrate Now from the Eye Tracking window. A solid colored screen will appear, and the user will be shown a sequence of points. Have the user focus on the center of each point as it appears until the next point appears.
When the user finishes focusing on points, the Calibration Results window opens.
If the results are unsatisfactory, select Recalibrate and try again. The user may need several tries to obtain an accurate calibration.
Recommendation: Be sure to take breaks to avoid fatiguing the user or losing the user’s attention.
Default calibration settings will be used unless you change them in Calibration Settings.
To cancel a calibration:
Tap the screen with your finger.
Stop looking at the display. The calibration will time out.
Finish the calibration and then perform another, more accurate, one.
Configuring Calibration Settings
Calibration settings can be changed to improve the user experience. From the Eye Tracking window, select Calibration Settings and then select the Settings tab.
Recommendation: When initially setting up eye tracking, adjustments are commonly made to the stimulus type and number of calibration points. It may take several tries to obtain an accurate calibration. Be sure to take breaks to avoid fatiguing the user or losing the user’s attention.
Number of Calibration Points
Number of Calibration Points determines the number of stimulus points the user will look at during calibration. The available settings are 0, 1, 2, 5, and 9; the default is 5. The more points you have to follow, the more accurate the calibration will be.
The setting 9, for example, displays a sequence of nine stimulus points during the calibration process: one at each corner, one at the top, one at the bottom, one on each side, and one in the middle. If you select 1, only one stimulus point will be displayed for the calibration process.
Tip: If visual attention is a challenge, try using 0, 1, or 2 calibration points. This is a quick and easy way to get started and get the individual used to using eyes for control.
Active Eye
Select which of the user’s eyes will be recognized during the calibration process.
If both of the user’s eyes function within normal limits, select Both.
If one of the user’s eyes is more controlled than the other or if one eye is obstructed, select Left Only or Right Only.
Background Color
Select the background color for the calibration screen.
Stimulus Image
From the Eye Tracking window, select Calibration Settings and then select the Stimulus tab. Select the image the user’s eyes will follow during calibration.
Select the Stimulus Type. If you select one of the animated images, the stimulus image will be animated during calibration.
Adjust the Stimulus Size. Move the slider or use the + and – buttons to select the size you want. Available sizes are S (small), M (medium), L (large), and XL (extra large).
When you finish changing calibration settings, select Finished.
Eye Tracking Selection Settings
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Eye Tracking. From the Eye Tracking window, select Eye Tracking Settings. The Eye Tracking window opens to the Selection tab.
Three methods are available for selecting a button on the screen.
Dwell: Select a button by dwelling on it. Buttons are selected automatically according to the Dwell Time you choose.
Blink: Select a button by blinking volitionally. Use the Minimum Blink Duration and Maximum Blink Duration sliders to adjust the amount of time you must close your eyes for the eye tracking system to register a blink.
Switch: The user moves the cursor with his or her eyes and makes selections by activating a switch. Use the slider to adjust switch selection time.
Setting up Dwell Selection
Selection Type
In the Eye Tracking window, with the Selection tab selected, select the Dwell tab. When Dwell is selected, you can select a button by dwelling on it. Buttons are selected automatically according to the dwell time you choose.
Dwell Time
Adjust the amount of time you need to gaze on a button to select it. Dwell time ranges from 0.0 to 10.0.
Repeat Delay
Repeat delay allows you to set how soon a button press will begin repeating when you continue to gaze at a button beyond its initial dwell time. This setting is only available when the Dwell tab is selected.
Repeat Rate
Repeat Rate is the speed at which a button will repeat itself when you dwell on it. This setting is only available when the repeat delay is set higher than 0.0.
Setting up Blink Selection
When Blink is selected, you can blink to make a selection. Minimum Blink Duration and Maximum Blink Duration settings are available. The eye tracking unit will ignore blinks that are of shorter or longer duration than the minimum and maximum settings.
Minimum Blink Duration
Adjust the minimum amount of time you must close your eyes for the eye tracking unit to register a blink. The minimum duration must be less than the maximum duration. Values range from 0.0 to 9.8.
Tip: Try using the default setting. If you need to change the setting, the minimum duration should be long enough that normal blinks do not activate a button.
Maximum Blink Duration
Adjust the maximum amount of time your eyes can be closed and still make a selection when they open. The maximum duration must be greater than the maximum duration. Values range from 0.1 to 10.00.
Tip: Try using the default setting. If you need to change the setting, the maximum duration should be long enough that you can finish a blink before the maximum time has accumulated. You do not want to make the maximum duration so long that if your head turns away from the screen and then back again, the system sees that as a selection.
Setting up Switch Selection
When you choose the Switch selection type, you can use a switch to make a selection. Adjust switch settings as follows:
Switch Selection Time: Adjust how long you must hold the switch to make a selection. Selection time ranges from 0 to 10 seconds.
Next Button Selection Delay: Adjust how long you must wait after releasing the switch before making your next selection. Selection delay ranges from 0 to 10 seconds.
Repeat Delay: Adjust how long to hold the switch down before the button selection begins to repeat itself.
Repeat Rate: Adjust the speed at which a button selection will repeat after the repeat delay has been met.
Pausing and Resuming Eye Tracking
When eye tracking is the current access method, a Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown appears at the top of the screen.
When eye tracking is active, the button shows “Tracking is ON”.
When eye tracking is active, the button shows “Tracking is ON”.
When eye tracking is paused, the button shows “Tracking is OFF”.
When you dwell on the button, “Resume” is displayed. To resume eye tracking, select Resume; the button changes to “Tracking is ON”.
When you want to pause eye tracking but still be able to make menu selections with a finger, select Pause. Select Resume to resume using eye tracking. During setup, it is best to pause eye tracking until you are ready to calibrate.
Show or hide the tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown
Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Access Method > Eye Tracking Settings and then select the Settings tab. Select the Pause/Resume Dropdown toggle to turn the dropdown on or off.
Communication Partner: Quickly pause and resume eye tracking
The communication partner can pause and resume eye tracking by touching with a finger the miniaturized positioning guide in the Multi-bar. Blue indicates eye tracking is active. Grey indicates eye tracking is paused.
Observing User Performance
Observe the user’s performance while using the default eye tracking settings and note any difficulties the user is experiencing. This will help you decide if adjustments are needed. If you need to adjust some settings, use the information in the following sections.
Adjusting Eye Tracking Settings
From the Eye Tracking window, select Eye Tracking Settings and then select the Tracking tab.
Filter Method
The filter methods help smooth the movement of the cursor.
Stream: The cursor moves with the eye wherever you look on the screen. This method works well for most users and at all ranges of smoothing.
Snap: Cursor movement is “sticky” as it snaps to the nearest selectable item within a set range. This method works well for users who have significant shifts in gaze—poor visual attention, frequent and constant head movement, or severe nystagmus.
Group: This method works well for users who have frequent shifts in gaze (mild to moderate nystagmus) around a central point.
Stream/Snap: Cursor movement changes as needed between stream and snap.
Stream/Group: Cursor movement changes as needed between stream and group.
Smoothing
When you select a smoothing value, the eye tracking unit will continually average the last X number of eye movement signals it receives. This helps to smooth pointer movements. The lower the number of samples the closer the cursor follows the actual gaze-point. The higher the number of samples the more the cursor lags behind the actual gaze-point. If the cursor/pointer is very jumpy, increase the number of samples. The higher you increase this number, the smoother (but slower) the pointer movement will be. Values range from 1 to 10.
Additional Eye Tracking Settings
From the Eye Tracking window, select Eye Tracking Settings and then select the Settings tab.
Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode
When Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode is turned on, a keyboard will appear when you select a text field in edit mode. You do not need to select the keyboard icon. When Text Field Keyboard in Edit Mode is turned off, you must select the keyboard icon to display the keyboard.
Pause/Resume Dropdown
Show or hide the Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown.
When the Pause/Resume Dropdown option is turned on 
, the Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown will appear at the top of the screen when eye tracking is active.
When the Pause/Resume Dropdown option is turned off 
, the Tracking is ON/Tracking is OFF dropdown will not appear at the top of the screen when eye tracking is active.
Adding Eye Tracking Shortcuts
You can add shortcuts that allow you to:
Quickly recalibrate or adjust eye tracking settings without leaving the current vocabulary page
Quickly toggle eye tracking on or off from the Quick Menu
Positioning Shortcut
Add the Check Positioning shortcut to the Quick Menu if you want to be able to quickly recalibrate or adjust the eye tracking settings without leaving the current vocabulary page.
Select Menu to open the Quick Menu.
Select Customize Quick Menu.
Select the space to which you want to add the Check Positioning shortcut. The space will change color.
Select the Check Positioning shortcut. The shortcut will appear in the selected space.
Select Save. The Check Positioning shortcut will be available from the Quick Menu any time you select the Menu button.
When you select the shortcut, the Eye Tracking window opens on top of the current vocabulary page and displays the positioning guide, calibration settings, and eye tracking settings. When you finish making adjustments, close the window and continue what you were doing on the vocabulary page.
Tracking Shortcut
When eye tracking is the current access method and you have turned off the Pause/Resume Dropdown setting, you can use the Tracking shortcut to quickly toggle eye tracking on or off from the Quick Menu.
Select Menu to open the Quick Menu.
Select Customize Quick Menu.
Select the space to which you want to add the Tracking shortcut. The space will change color.
Select the Tracking shortcut. The shortcut will appear in the selected space.
Select Save. The Tracking shortcut will show “Tracking is OFF” or “Tracking is ON” in the Quick Menu any time you select the Menu button. Select the shortcut to toggle the setting on or off.
Empower Settings to Enhance Eye Tracking
You may find that adjusting additional settings will help the eye tracking experience.
Cursor Feedback
Adjust the appearance of the cursor. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Cursor.
Cursor: When Cursor is turned on, a real-time cursor appears on the screen in the shape of an arrow or hand. The default setting is on.
Cursor Size: Choose S (small), M (medium), or L (large).
Cursor Color: Select the Colors tab on the left side of the window and set the color of the cursor.
Dwell Feedback
Adjust what you see when you dwell on a button. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Dwell Feedback.
Pointer: The pointer is an on-screen indicator that shows what button the user is pointing to. Choose None, Circle, or Square. The default is None.
Pointer Size: Choose a number between 1 and 10.
Pointer Animation: Choose None or Shrink.
Pointer Color: Select the Colors tab on the left side of the window and set the color of the pointer.
Dwell Feedback: Set how a button looks when you dwell on it. Choose None, Invert, Border, or Fill.
Selection Feedback
Adjust what happens when you select a button. Go to Menu > Toolbox > User Settings > Cursor, Dwell & Selection Feedback > Selection Feedback.
Selection Feedback: To see a visual indication when a button is selected, select Invert, Border, or Fill.
Beep: To hear a beep when a button is selected, turn Beep on.
Button Padding
Increase or decrease the space between buttons.
Select Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Vocabulary Settings.
Select the Button Preferences tab.
Set Button Padding (the space between buttons) as a percentage from 0% to 40%.
Adjust the Action of Blank Buttons
Choose how buttons that have no content act.
Go to Menu > Toolbox > Vocabulary > Vocabulary Settings.
Select the Button Preferences tab.
Set Empty Button Action as either No Action or Go To Home.
Turn Auto-Sleep Off
When you are using eye tracking in Empower, make sure that Auto-Sleep is off. Go to Menu > Toolbox > System Settings > Power Settings. Select the Battery Saving tab. Check the Auto-Sleep setting. If Auto-Sleep is on, select the on/off toggle to turn it off.