The EyeWriter project is an ongoing collaborative research effort to empower people who are suffering from ALS with creative technologies.

It is a low-cost eye-tracking apparatus & custom software that allows graffiti writers and artists with paralysis resulting from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to draw using only their eyes.

Members of Free Art and Technology (FAT), OpenFrameworks, the Graffiti Research Lab, and The Ebeling Group communities have teamed-up with a legendary LA graffiti writer, publisher and activist, named Tony Quan, aka TEMPTONE. Tony was diagnosed with ALS in 2003, a disease which has left him almost completely physically paralyzed… except for his eyes. This international team is working together to create a low-cost, open source eye-tracking system that will allow ALS patients to draw using just their eyes. The long-term goal is to create a professional/social network of software developers, hardware hackers, urban projection artists and ALS patients from around the world who are using local materials and open source research to creatively connect and make eye art.

More pics and info after the jump.

This project is so awesome. This is real dedication, this is why I love art. I really want to try it out for myself. The main thing about this for me though, is how every one is helping out and trying to help a man to do what he loves to do. I will continue to follow the project and post updates. But check out their site and everything for yourselves. Some really cool stuff.

More High Resolution images are available at:

http://www.eyewriter.org/images/

Tempt’s EyeTags are uploaded directly from his eyewriter to here:

http://fffff.at/tempt1/photos/eyetags/