As Minecraft made its way from PC to console and tablets, the block-based adventure game has been adapted for a diverse range of control schemes. Until now, however, gamers with severe physical disabilities have been unable to build their own farms or explore the Nether. That’s just changed, thanks to some just-released software called EyeMine that turns eye-gazes into in-game actions.
Launched by SpecialEffect, a UK-based charity for gamers with physical disabilities, EyeMine is a free download that’s designed to work with a range of eye-tracking hardware. The package uses infrared cameras built into the tracker to work out where the user is looking, combining an assistive on-screen keyboard with a behind-the-scenes mod to make Minecraft more accessible.
Two control settings are available depending on the level of eye control, with the most basic offering the freedom to move, fly and attack. More accurate control extends this further, enabling the player to craft, build and even chat. The charity adds that its software can be made to work with almost any tracker that can control a mouse cursor.
After building a reputation on providing direct support to disabled gamers, and even designing specialist controllers for gamers with limited mobility, the launch of EyeMine was described as a ‘watershed moment’ for the charity. Founder and CEO Dr. Mick Donegan described it as “a flagship example of taking the experience we’ve gained through our one-to-one work with gamers with the most severe physical disabilities and translating it into a means of helping a huge number of people on a global scale.”
EyeMine is available as a free download and requires a Minecraft account on Windows 7 minimum. The PC must also meet the minimum specifications to run Minecraft.
