Welcome to the Northeast Regional URSCA Conference of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. We are grateful to SUNY Geneseo for hosting this year’s event.
If you are a student participating in the conference and are interested in publishing your research in our online journal, please visit the Metamorphosis website for more information.
Questions? Contact Claire Bailey, COPLAC Program Associate, at bailey@coplac.org or 828-258-7879.
Tobii Dynavox Eye Gaze Device as a Means of Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) in an Educational Setting Emma Lupoli Faculty mentor: Douglas MacKenzie State University of New York at Geneseo
Tobii Dynavox Eye Gaze Device is designed for use by non-verbal students with disabilities related to muscle control. This device allows them to interact with their peers. It is attached to a tablet or computer and tracks the user’s eye movements in discrete steps. First, the eye tracker sends out near-infrared light which is reflected in the eyes. These reflections are picked up by the eye tracker camera and, through filtering and calculations, identifies where the user is looking. This device is beneficial for use in an educational setting for students to facilitate communication with classmates and teachers. It can be personalized to the user. Specific programs can be downloaded to help teachers understand what draws the attention of the student and how the student responds to certain prompts. The device has shown to be more effective over time as the student becomes comfortable communicating through it.
Emma Lupoli is a 19 year old, Early Childhood Special Education major, concentrating in Environmental Studies from Port Washington, New York.
