Gaze Typing

A text input method that uses eye tracking technology to allow users to type by looking at keys on a virtual on-screen keyboard. The most common technique is dwell-based selection, where the user fixates on a letter for a set duration (typically 300-1000 milliseconds) to select it. Gaze typing is a primary communication method for people with severe motor disabilities such as locked-in syndrome, ALS, or high-level spinal cord injury who cannot use their hands or voice. While essential for these users, gaze typing is typically slow (under 20 words per minute) compared to speaking or physical keyboard input, and can cause eye fatigue. Research continues on faster techniques including dwell-free methods, multi-key selection, and language model prediction.