The six CU Boulder electrical and computer engineering students who make up the Volt Vision team. Source: CU BoulderA team of University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) electrical and computer engineering students — called Volt Vision — are working together to create a wireless, wearable product that will enable the wearer to control machines and devices using only their eyes.

The sensor, called Vee Vee, will be placed on the wearer’s temple and will, through commands sent via eye movement, allow the wearer to control items such as electric wheelchairs, door locks and drones.

“Tech companies tend to forget certain people in their markets,” said Bader Albader, a team member of Volt Vision. “We’re trying to show that technology can be used to not only help and support people with disabilities but can also be accessible to everyone to use in a range of applications.”

Vee Vee sends a directive to an external machine that is coupled with the wearable device via Bluetooth signal once it receives the direction of the eye movement.

“There’s a trend in the tech world to lean toward the internet of things, to be connected to everything,” said Marisa Edwinson, a Volt Vision team member, “Smart homes. Smart cars. Your phone talks to your front door. We are trying to break into that market and not leave anyone behind, but you have control over what it does.”

Currently, Volt Vision is participating in a crowdfunding effort to help the team purchase materials for the device. To help with that effort, visit Volt Vision’s crowdfunding page.

The team hopes to have a prototype ready for testing by the end of January 2018.