Lenovo launches TTS eye tracking device for ALS accessibility

At Lenovo Tech World ’24, we joined Lenovo and The Scott-Morgan Foundation (SMF) to unveil a new AI-powered tool that helps people with ALS communicate more easily, and more personally. It combines eye-tracking, AI voice technology, and avatars, letting users speak by typing with their eyes.

The tool is already being tested by people with ALS. It features a circular keyboard that reduces eye strain and speeds up typing. Predictive AI suggests words, which are then turned into speech. D-ID’s avatars allow users to create a lifelike digital version of themselves to make interactions more personal.

Erin Taylor, a disability advocate with ALS, introduced Lenovo’s Chairman at the event using this technology. Speaking with her own voice again, she said what matters most is seeing this tool help others in similar situations.

In the past, voice banking could be slow and often lacked emotional depth. Now, with voice AI, we can recreate voices that capture the speaker’s unique tone and character, helping them keep their personal identity. We’re working closely with SMF and Bridging Voice to refine this process, making sure the technology meets the needs of those who use it.

The avatars from D-ID and the precise eye-tracking technology from IrisBond are key to making the tool both accessible and easy to use. With ElevenLabs providing advanced voice AI, the goal is to let people with ALS regain their voices, and their ability to speak to others authentically.

This work continues the legacy of Dr. Peter Scott-Morgan, who believed that technology could remove the barriers faced by people with severe disabilities. Thanks to recent advances, this vision is becoming real.

SMF will keep testing and improving the tool to meet the real needs of people with ALS. We’re proud to be building technology that makes a real difference on a deeply human level.