"Calibration" refers to the process of configuring an eye tracking system to accurately respond to an individual's specific eye movements. This involves having a user look at a series of points on the screen, mapping their eyes to the corresponding screen locations.
As of 9.2025, you can now add a calibration button right within Mind Express for WinSlate devices that are equipped with our newest camera. This is how we recommend accessing all of the powerful calibration tools associated with the eye gaze camera.
If your device does not already have this feature programmed, you can refer to this article [NEW FEATURE 8.2025] How do I add a calibration button in Mind Express that links directly to Intelligaze? Alternatively, you can reach out to our Technical Support Team or your local Assistive Technology Specialist for personalized assistance!
This article assumes that you have access to the latest updates and covers the basic calibration process. For information about all the tools and customizations available within the calibration software, see Which eye gaze calibration settings can I customize?
First, we will discuss appropriate device positioning. The positioning of the device in relation to the AAC user is critical to successful eye gaze use. Remember, we want to first ensure that the AAC user is in their most comfortable position. From there, move the device into an appropriate position. Here are some things to remember:
The WinSlate with Enable Eyes should be...
- About 2 feet away from the face of the user
- Centered in front of the user
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Tilted as needed so that the screen is parallel to the user's face
The eye gaze program (see next section) will give you some additional feedback so that you can verify the device is in the appropriate location. The above guidelines simply provide you with general recommendations so that you have a starting point.
Now that you have the device in a generally appropriate position, we can explore the calibration tool.
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Select the "Calibration" button in Mind Express that is programmed with the latest calibration tool (see [NEW FEATURE 8.2025] How do I add a calibration button in Mind Express that links directly to Intelligaze?). The screen in the image below will appear.
- Select "Calibration" to access the associated tools.
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Locate the large window in the middle of the screen and the distance indicator to the left of that window. Both of these tools will help you to ensure that the device is appropriately positioned in relation to the AAC user.
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Distance indicator: Use the distance indicator to the left of the window to verify that the device is at an appropriate distance in relation to the user. The white line on the indicator (see images below) represents the user's distance from the screen.
User is at an appropriate distance from the screen:
User is too close to the screen:
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User views: In the window at the center of the screen, you will either see a camera view of the user or an animated face. Ensure that the user is centered in that window. Move the device if needed (while also maintaining an appropriate distance)! Press the "Camera" button on the screen to toggle between the three available views
, which are explained below.
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Animated face: This view will show you an animated face with two eyes. The face color will change from green to yellow to red depending on the user's distance from the screen. Ideally, we want the face to be green with both animated eyes visible. If the camera is unable to track one or both eyes, you will see an exclamation point over that eye (right image below), this suggests that the camera is not tracking that eye.
- Standard camera mode: This view will show you a live image of the user. You will see green boxes around the user's eyes if the camera is tracking them adequately. This is the view that we recommend using for positioning.
- Zoomed camera mode: This view will zoom in closely on the user's eyes. You will see red circles around their pupils if the camera is tracking their eyes adequately. This view can be especially helpful to use if you are concerned about light reflecting off of the user's glasses.
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- Now that you have the device in an appropriate position, you can proceed with calibration! Select the "Start Calibration" button to begin the calibration process.
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After the calibration is completed, you will see a performance score out of 4 stars, which indicates how strong the calibration was. The program also provides performance data for the left and right eyes. From here, you will have several options to choose from:
- Accept: Accepts and saves the calibration. You will be automatically returned to the user's vocabulary file where you programmed the calibration button.
- Improve: This is an available option if there are certain calibration points that can be improved.
- Retry: This restarts the calibration from the beginning.
- Cancel: Exits the calibration.
- Verify: This is a tool that you can use to verify that the calibration is accurate. You will see numbers 1-5 appear on the screen and the user's gaze acts like a spotlight as they look around. You can ask them to look at various numbers to ensure that they are able to access all areas of the screen.
- Once you "Accept" the calibration and return to the user's vocabulary file, you can adjust various eye gaze settings within Mind Express. See these articles for further details:
Would you like to change the number of calibration points or the type of target that the user is tracking? Do you want to turn off the tracking for one eye? Please see our article on calibration customization: Which eye gaze calibration settings can I customize?
Need assistance troubleshooting eye gaze access? See this article: Eye Gaze Troubleshooting
Questions? You are more than welcome to reach out to your local Assistive Technology Specialist: Find a Specialist | Forbes AAC | Augmentative Communication
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