Tobii's TD Pilot Brings Eye Gaze Typing and TTS to iPad

Tobii Dynavox recently introduced TD Pilot, a voice and eye-tracking app for Apple's iPad tablets to aid people with physical impairments. Users of the TD Pilot app will be able to launch and use apps, type, and speak with a synthetic voice using nothing but their gaze.

TD Pilot includes the eye-tracking gear, a set of stereo speakers, and a screen for displaying text. Users can communicate via text or audio with Tobii's own TD Talk text-to-speech app, which generates natural-sounding speech using eye motions. It also supports TD Snap, offering a choice of symbol-supported solutions to facilitate communication and learning. The app also supports TTS apps from other vendors.

"We are immensely proud to launch TD Pilot, a life-changing communication solution that empowers people with disabilities to live their fullest lives," said Fredrik Ruben, Tobii Dynavox's CEO, in a statement. "TD Pilot offers customers a medically certified, eye-controlled communication device for iPad. By bringing our world-leading eye tracking technology to iPad, we have created a powerful and easy-to-use solution to support our customers' needs."

"We are excited that people who need this technology will have the opportunity to control iPad using just their eyes," said Sarah Herrlinger Apple's senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, in a statement. "At Apple, we build foundational technology, including support for eye tracking, into our operating systems to make them accessible, and we're thrilled that Tobii Dynavox's TD Pilot is leveraging that to enable people with disabilities to pursue their passions."