Lincare AAC has released a new speech generating device in collaboration with Cognixion. The Expression Eye tablet leverages Cognixion’s Speakprose Pro+ app to help people communicate more complex thoughts when other parts of their body are incapacitated.

The new device was specifically designed for medical patients on a ventilator or a respirator to improve care outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Someone who has been intubated cannot effectively communicate any changes in their condition, so Expression Eye will allow them to use their eyes to navigate the device interface and express their needs.

“Access to this level of technology has historically been limited due to high out-of-pocket cost, personal insurance limitations, and state funding restrictions,” said Cognixion Clinical Director of Product Development Lucas Steuber. “Partnering with Lincare AAC provides immediate funding support in 48 states to unlock speech for hundreds of millions of people affected by communication disabilities.”

The Expression Eye tablets will support Speakprose Pro in addition to Speakprose Pro+. The standard version of the app can be controlled with gestures like swipes and taps, and boasts a predictive keyboard that builds and stores commonly used phrases and sentence structures to enhance communication.

MarketsandMarkets has previously predicted that the market for eye tracking technology will climb to $1.786 billion by 2025. The firm believes that the healthcare industry will drive much of that growth, where there is a high demand for assistive communication devices like the Expression Eye.

The Expression Eye also speaks to the healthcare industry’s growing interest in AI technology. Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott has argued that the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to greater investment in AI solutions, citing the use of biometric smart rings in a San Francisco hospital. Those kinds of wearable devices could eventually be deployed to detect symptoms and track the spread of a disease like the coronavirus.