Design Concepts for Gaze-Based Digital Musical Instruments

In recent decades, the introduction of new affordable non-invasive eye tracking technologies accelerated the development of new gaze interaction techniques. Some of these find an application in accessible human-computer interfaces operable by people with quadriplegic disabilities. Musical interfaces represent a possible benchmark for these techniques since they require high precision levels, speed, and minimal latency. Several software Accessible Digital Musical Instruments have been developed, experimenting with keys and visual cues suitable for this particular context. This paper proposes a review of different design techniques proposed in the literature for the design of gaze controlled musical instruments, as well as possible solutions for the Midas Touch Problem, a known issue in gaze-based interfaces. A summary of the physiology of the human ocular movement is also provided. The provided notions could inform the design of new gaze-based software musical instruments.