SANDY — For most people who watch television, the process is pretty easy. Grab the remote control, peruse through the menu and tune into the program you’re interested in watching.
But for those with physical limitations or disabilities, the process is a lot more complicated and sometimes impossible without outside help.
A new technology offered by one of the nation’s largest media companies is providing improved accessibility for an entire population of TV watchers in the blink of an eye.
Jonathan Michaelson, 36, likes to listen to and sing Barry White songs as well as watching various programs on television when it’s available to him. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy at birth, being able to operate a traditional remote control is not really an option due to his condition.
On Monday, he became one of the first Utahns to demo the new Xfinity X1 eye control technology that allows users to operate their television employing a web-based remote for tablets and computers that pairs with an existing eye gaze system that lets viewers change channels, set recordings, search for shows, as well as a variety of other operations.
People with physical disabilities can navigate their television’s features and programing using their eyes, explained Tom Wlodkowski, vice president for accessibility at Comcast.
“(Engineers have) developed this technology called eye gaze technology that allows your eyes to become the mouse,” he said. “What we’ve done is build a web application or interface that is connected to our X1 platform.”
He said the advancement can potentially help unlock many people living with a physical disability become more independent. Over 48 million people live with physical or mobility disabilities, he said.
“The way we view accessibility is that we want to open up our products to the widest possible audience,” Wlodkowski said. “We believe that if you build an inclusive product for someone who uses eye gaze software, you’re ultimately going to end up building a better interface for everyone.”
Viewers initially program the tablet or computer to track their eye gaze and movements and practice using ocular movements and blinking to command the visual remote control.
As someone who is familiar with using eye gaze technology, Michaelson said he was excited about the possibilities the new X1 platform could eventually bring to his entertainment life. While he liked the overall experience, he said trying to get it to work to his satisfaction on the first try was a bit challenging.
“It was hard — moving my eyes and getting it to do what I wanted,” he said.
Noting that he had a limited time to work with the new platform, he said having more opportunity to work with the technology will help him use it more effectively.
“I would want it at home,” Michaelson said, adding that it would provide “a lot more” independence.
Advancements like the Xfinity X1 eye control technology offer life-changing possibilities for individuals with disabilities, said Kristy Chambers, CEO of Columbus Community Center, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit that provides support services for people with disabilities.
“It broadens their world,” she said. “If you’re limited in your dexterity or your ability to verbalize, imagine how frustrating that would be. To control something with eye movement must be quite profound.”
She noted that having more control over one’s life would be “liberating and freeing” for anyone, particularly for those with long-term disabilities.
“You’re exercising choice, something (most people) take for granted,” she added.
The new technology is essentially “a communication tool” that is becoming ubiquitous and familiar to more and more people whether disabled or not, she said.
“For this particular population, it’s far more profound because it hasn’t been accessible in ways that it is currently,” Chambers said. “It’s a ‘prosthetic’ that hasn’t been available in the past.”