Gaming for Training Voluntary Control of Pupil Size

Users can voluntarily control the size of their pupil by switching focus from a far target A (large pupil size) to a near target B (small pupil size), according to the pupillary accommodative response (PAR). Pupil size is governed by smooth muscles and has been suggested as communication pathway for patients affected by paralysis of skeletal muscles, such as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We here present a video game that relies on PAR: a 2d side-scroller game where the user, by varying pupil size, controls the height at which a spaceship is moving aiming at colliding with bubbles to burst them and score points. The height at which the spaceship flies inversely depends on pupil area. The game is implemented on a Raspberry Pi board equipped with a IR camera and may record the time course of pupil size during the game, for off-line analysis. This application is intended as a tool to train and familiarize with the control of pupil size for alternative augmentative communication.

Automated summary

This is a video game that utilizes the pupillary accommodative response (PAR) to control the height of a spaceship by adjusting the size of the pupil. The game involves colliding with bubbles to score points, and the height of the spaceship is determined by the pupil area. The game can record changes in pupil size for offline analysis and is intended as a training tool for alternative augmentative communication.