Image processing used to harness blinking as a channel of communication and control for physically disabled people

ÐSophisticated mathematical algorithms (such as differencing, thresholding, aggregation and statistical analysis of skin colours) are used to compare successive frames of computer-captured images of the face. From these, changes in state of the eyes are determined and are used to detect blinks. A recognition performance of 83.74+0.03% is achieved over ®ve subjects with a low rate of false positives 2.71+0.01%. A logical decision rule identi®es purposeful blinks and applies them to control either a custom-designed communication package or an external device