Eye Gaze Communication

The use of eye movements and gaze direction as a means of communication, either naturally (making eye contact, looking at objects to indicate interest) or through technology (eye-tracking systems that allow users to select items on a screen by looking at them). For AAC users, eye gaze serves dual roles: it is a natural backchanneling channel (maintaining eye contact to signal listening) and a potential device input method. However, these roles conflict—using gaze to operate an AAC device means breaking eye contact with the conversation partner, reducing the availability of gaze as a social and backchanneling signal.