EyeMine – A way to play Minecraft with your eyes….and it’s free!
Reprint from ATB
Many people with severe physical disabilities struggle to have the dexterity or movement to play Minecraft, but now there’s a way for many of them to join in – simply by moving their eyes.
Windows-based EyeMine software is free to download for anyone with a Minecraft account and works with a number of eye-trackers, including low-cost units like the Tobii 4C. EyeMine caters for a wide range of abilities, too. If players can reliably use eye gaze to select a square about a quarter of the height of a monitor, they should be able to walk, fly and attack. More accurate eye control enables building, selection of items from the inventory and chat.
How does EyeMine work?
Eye-trackers have inbuilt infrared cameras which track where your eyes are looking, letting you move the mouse pointer around on the screen. You can ‘click’ by dwelling (staring at a screen button for a certain length of time) or by using a switch that’s plugged in to the computer. You can see dwelling in action in the lower screenshot – it’s the red circular timer.
EyeMine software harnesses this control specifically to play Minecraft, and consists of an assistive keyboard as well as a custom mod that makes makes a few small changes behind the scenes to make Minecraft more accessible.
To help you get started, there’s a growing list of tutorial videos available.
Requirements
You’ll need a Windows PC running at least Windows 7 with the minimum spec for Minecraft, plus an eye-tracker device and a Minecraft account. Any of these eye-trackers will provide full functionality. Any eye tracker with its own software that allows you to control the mouse will also work, but with more limited functionality.
If you don’t have a Minecraft account, you can try EyeMine to make sure the target sizes are appropriate before purchasing one. EyeMine software is not compatible with Minecraft on mobile or gaming consoles.
For more information, contact info@specialeffect.org.uk
For technical support, check the Frequently Asked EyeMine Questions page. If the answer you need isn’t there, email eyemine@specialeffect.org.uk. We’ll endeavour to provide a response by the end of the next working day.
