Exploring the Potential of Eye Movements and Voice Commands for Enhanced Gaming Character Control
In a groundbreaking development for the gaming world, a research group has tested a new control method that combines eye-tracking and voice commands in a 2D platform-runner game. This innovative approach, according to an experiment with 24 participants, has shown promising results in enhancing player control over their characters compared to traditional tactile controls.
The experiment, designed to contribute to mobile game play using only eye movements, found that players using the eye-tracking and voice command controls may have an easier time navigating the game. The character's movement is determined by where the player looks on the screen, with a gaze towards the top half moving the character to the top platform group, and a gaze towards the bottom half moving the character to the bottom group.
Voice commands add an additional layer to the control system. The "jump" voice command makes the character jump once, while the "twice" command makes it perform a double jump and switch platforms within the same group. This dual-control interaction method could potentially be an alternative to tactile controls in mobile gaming, and could benefit those with hand injuries, those who have lost the use of their hands, elderly individuals, and those with health conditions that make using their hands difficult.
The study also measured player engagement and performance using two different control methods: touch controls and the eye-voice combination. Surprisingly, the survey results showed that players felt a stronger connection to the game when using eye-tracking and voice command controls compared to tactile controls.
To address difficulties encountered with eye movements, such as eye strain from long periods of focus or keeping eyes open, voice commands were introduced. The experiment, which is the first of its kind to compare the eye movements-voice command combination with touch controls, showed that this new control method could potentially enable easier gameplay and digital device usage for a wider range of users.
A screenshot from the game used in the experiment is provided, but the name of the game developed by the research group is not available in the search results. The potential benefits of this new control method extend beyond gaming, potentially improving accessibility for a wider range of users in their digital interactions.
This new control method could potentially revolutionise the way we play games and interact with digital devices, making them more accessible for a wider range of users. Further research and development are needed to fully realise the potential of this innovative approach.
