Eye-Com Corp. of Reno has struck a deal with a unit of Siemens AG to develop devices that use Eye-Com's eye-tracking technology to create assistive communications devices for patients who have lost voluntary use of their muscles.
The eye-tracking technology, for instance, allows patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease to convert eye movements into typing.
The Siemens Technology-to-Business Center will work with Eye-Com to develop an assistive-communications product known as "Hawkeye" and to develop other uses for the Eye-Com technology in Siemens products.
Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.
A multi-national firm headquartered in Germany, Siemens' products cover a wide swath ranging from home automation to industrial controls.
Its Technology-to-Business Center works to convert innovative technologies into new Siemens product lines or startup businesses.
Eye-Con Corp. holds nine patents related to eye-tracking and head-tracking technologies and has 16 patent applications that are pending.
