Smyle Mouse Control for AAC and Eye Tracking Devices
Author: Perceptive Devices LLC
Published: 2017/10/25 - Updated: 2026/01/28
Publication Type: Announcement
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This announcement details a partnership between Perceptive Devices LLC and Tobii Dynavox that brings innovative accessibility technology to people with mobility limitations. The collaboration integrates Smyle Mouse software with Tobii's eye tracking devices, allowing users to control computers entirely through head movements and facial expressions captured by a standard webcam. This technology serves individuals with spinal cord injuries, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Cerebral Palsy, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome who face challenges using traditional input methods. The solution eliminates the need for hands, voice commands, keyboards, mice, or adaptive switches, making computer access more intuitive for those with physical disabilities. Tobii Dynavox began including full versions of Smyle Mouse on their I-Series products and trial versions on Indi devices starting in 2017, providing a practical alternative for hands-free computing and communication.
Introduction
Perceptive Devices LLC announced a worldwide, multi-year partnership agreement with Tobii Dynavox (a business unit of Tobii AB) to bring a new generation of hands-free and voice-free control for those with physical difficulties.
This partnership gives users of Tobii Dynavox's products a new option to control their devices using only eye gaze and gentle smiles, without the use of hands, voice, mouse, keyboard or adaptive switches.
Main Content
Perceptive Devices' award-winning head mouse and gesture control technology allows users to achieve mouse control in a completely hands-free, touch-free, and voice-free fashion.
Their software product, Smyle Mouse, tracks users' head motions and facial gestures via a simple webcam and translates them into mouse commands for precise and responsive mouse control.
A user can initiate a click, scroll, or drag by simply smiling.
Users can also use the smile gesture as a novel access method to exercise switch control over their AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) software and devices.
"Our technology can be very useful to millions of people around the world who experience difficulties in using their hands due to disabilities such as spinal cord injury, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Cerebral Palsy and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," said Uday Parshionikar, Founder and CEO of Perceptive Devices LLC.
"Pairing our facial expressions based head mouse control with Tobii's gold standard eye tracking technology is a match made in heaven for users looking for a simple yet powerful hands-free and voice-free control solution."
Tobii AB is the global leader in eye tracking.
Tobii Dynavox makes specially designed computers that are controlled by eye movement or touch screens for use by people with special needs.
Tobii Dynavox will start including a full version of Smyle Mouse on all its I-Series products (such as I-15+ and I-12+ products) in Q3 2017. A trial version of Smyle Mouse will be included with its Indi products as well as bundled with its standalone eye tracking peripherals in a similar timeframe.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The development of smile-activated computer control represents a significant step forward in making technology genuinely accessible to people who cannot rely on conventional input methods. What makes this approach particularly valuable is its use of standard webcam hardware rather than expensive specialized equipment, potentially bringing down the cost barrier that often prevents people from accessing assistive technology. As computer use becomes increasingly central to employment, education, and social connection, innovations like Smyle Mouse help ensure that physical limitations don't translate into digital exclusion. The partnership between a specialized software developer and an established eye tracking manufacturer shows how collaboration across the assistive technology sector can accelerate practical solutions that make a real difference in daily life.Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Perceptive Devices LLC and published on 2017/10/25, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.