JP6712813B2 - Symbol selection device and program for symbol selection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a symbol selection device and a symbol selection device capable of selecting a symbol such as a character or a symbol (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “symbol”) displayed on a screen from the user's line of sight. Regarding the program.

In recent years, a symbol selection device capable of selecting a symbol displayed on the screen by a line of sight has been developed as a tool for supporting communication of a patient who has difficulty moving other than the eyeball due to severe limb paralysis or the like.

As such a symbol selection device, for example, in Patent Document 1, a user's line of sight is detected by using a camera, a cursor on the screen is moved according to the detected line of sight, and a symbol displayed on the screen is displayed. A selection that can be selected is disclosed. In this symbol selection device, the viewpoint position of the user on the screen is estimated based on the detected line of sight, and the cursor is displayed at this estimated viewpoint position. The user can select the symbol by moving the cursor on the screen to the symbol by moving the line of sight and, for example, blinking. Then, the selected symbol is displayed in the symbol column display window on the screen, which allows the user to convey his or her intention to another person.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-020196

However, in the symbol selection device of the type that detects the line of sight of the user using the camera or the like as described above, the symbol column display window is fixed and displayed at a position apart from the plurality of symbols to be selected, such as the edge of the screen. Has been done. Therefore, in order to confirm that the selected symbol is correctly selected, the user has to repeatedly make a line of sight between the symbols on the screen and the symbol row display window. Then, the symbol displayed on the screen may be erroneously selected while moving the line of sight to confirm the symbol string.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a symbol selection device capable of easily confirming a symbol string of selected characters, symbols, etc. and reducing erroneous symbol selection. The purpose is to do.

That is, the symbol selection device according to the present invention allows a plurality of symbols such as characters and symbols displayed on the screen to be selected by the user's line of sight, and the line of sight of the user directed to the screen can be changed. The line-of-sight detection means for detecting, a symbol selection part for selecting one symbol from a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection part, and the symbol selection part. A fixed symbol display control unit for displaying on the screen a symbol column display window for displaying symbols arranged in a selected order, the fixed symbol display control unit changing the display position of the symbol column display window to the symbol It is characterized in that it is set at a position adjacent to one symbol selected by the selection unit.

In such a case, the symbol row display window is displayed at a position adjacent to one symbol selected by the symbol selection unit, so that the user looks at the symbol to be selected and then makes a large line of sight. You can check the symbol string displayed in the symbol string display window without moving it. That is, the user does not have to move his or her line of sight to pass over the other symbols displayed on the screen in order to confirm the selected symbol sequence, so that the erroneous selection of symbols can be reduced. You can Further, since it is not necessary to move the line of sight greatly between the selected symbol and the symbol array display window, the user can easily confirm the selected symbol array.

The symbol selecting device estimates a viewpoint position of the user on the screen based on a detection result of the line-of-sight detecting means, and an estimated viewpoint which is a viewpoint position estimated by the viewpoint position estimating portion. A selection symbol display control unit for moving a desired one symbol among a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen to a preset selection position on the screen based on the position; It is preferable that the position is fixed to a predetermined position on the screen, and the symbol selection unit selects one symbol at the selected position.
In such a case, since the selection position is fixed at a predetermined position on the screen, the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit are always selected at the same position on the screen (that is, the selection position). As a result, the symbol array display window is always displayed at the same position on the screen (that is, near the selected position), so that the user can easily check the symbol array in the symbol array display window.

It is preferable that the fixed symbol display control unit displays the symbol column display window so that at least a part of each of a plurality of symbols adjacent to the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit can be seen.
If this is the case, the user can check all the symbols displayed on the screen while the symbol column display window is displayed, so it is easier to find the symbol to select next. be able to.

It is preferable that the confirmed symbol display control unit transparently displays the symbol column display window.
With such a configuration, the symbols on the screen overlapping the symbol array display window can be checked through the watermark, so that the user can check all the symbols displayed on the screen. This makes it easier to find the next symbol to select.

The fixed symbol display control unit displays the symbol columns horizontally in the symbol column display window, and performs centering with the horizontal coordinate position of the center of one symbol selected by the symbol selection unit as the center. Is preferably displayed.
When viewing a symbol, the user often looks around the center of the symbol. If this is the case, the selected symbol string will be centered and slightly above (or slightly below) the center of the symbol that the user is actually looking at, so the user is actually looking at it. The entire symbol sequence can be confirmed by slightly shifting the line of sight from (or slightly below) the symbol. That is, since the moving distance of the line of sight for confirming the symbol array can be further shortened, erroneous symbol selection can be further reduced.

The fixed symbol display control unit displays the plurality of selected symbols in the symbol column display window, or instead of displaying the plurality of selected symbols in the symbol column display window, the selection It is preferable to display a message corresponding to the combination of the plurality of generated symbols in the symbol column display window.
With such a configuration, it is possible to create a message faster than when a message is created by selecting symbols such as characters one by one.

When the symbol selection unit selects one symbol, it is preferable that the selected symbol display control unit newly displays one or a plurality of symbols associated with the selected one symbol on the screen.
In such a case, when one symbol is selected, the symbol associated with the symbol is displayed on the screen, so that the user can easily find the symbol to be selected next.

A program for a symbol selection device according to the present invention includes a line-of-sight detection unit that detects a line of sight of a user directed to a screen, and selects a plurality of symbols such as characters and symbols displayed on the screen by the line of sight of the user. As a symbol selection unit, which is applied to a symbol selection device configured as described above, and which selects one symbol from a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection means. And a symbol column display window for displaying the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit side by side in the selected order, and the display position of the symbol column display window is selected by the symbol selection unit. The computer is caused to exhibit the function as the fixed symbol display control unit which is set at a position adjacent to one symbol that is present.
With such a program for the symbol selection device, the same effects as the effects obtained by the symbol selection device described above can be obtained.

According to the present invention thus configured, it is possible to provide a symbol selection device capable of easily confirming a symbol string of selected characters, symbols, etc. and reducing erroneous selection.

The figure which shows typically the whole structure of the symbol selection apparatus of this embodiment. The block diagram which shows the apparatus structure of the symbol selection apparatus of the same embodiment. The functional block diagram which shows the apparatus structure of the symbol selection apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 6 is a screen exemplifying diagram showing an example of a display mode of a screen in the same embodiment. 3 is an operation flowchart of the symbol selection device in the same embodiment. The screen illustration figure which shows an example of the display mode of the screen in other embodiment.

A symbol selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The symbol selection device 100 of the present embodiment is for supporting communication of a person or the like who has difficulty moving a limb or a mouth.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the symbol selection device 100 includes a notebook computer 1 having a display 2 and a computer main body 3, and a line-of-sight detection unit 4 for detecting the line of sight of the user. On the screen 21 of the display 2, a symbol panel 211 in which symbols such as characters and symbols are arranged side by side is displayed, and the user moves the symbol panel 211 by moving his or her line of sight to obtain a desired symbol in the symbol panel 211. One symbol can be selected by aligning it with a predetermined selection position fixed on the screen 21.
In this embodiment, the coordinates of the selected position are set to be the same as the center coordinates of the screen 21.

The line-of-sight detection unit 4 detects the line of sight of the user directed to the screen 21 of the display 2 and outputs the detection result as a line-of-sight signal.
Specifically, a light source (not shown) that irradiates the user's eyeball with near-infrared rays, a camera (not shown) that images the user's eyeball, and the imaging data output from the camera are processed to detect the line of sight. And a line-of-sight signal output unit (not shown) for outputting as a line-of-sight signal.
The line-of-sight detecting means 4 of this embodiment is of a so-called mounting type, and is attached to the lower part of the display 2 so that the light source and the camera face the user side.

The display 2 displays an image represented by the image data transmitted from the computer main body 3 on its screen 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the computer body 3 structurally includes a CPU 301, a memory 302, an input/output interface 303, and the like. The computer main body 3 cooperates with the CPU 301 and its peripheral devices based on various application software (hereinafter, referred to as a program) stored in the memory 302, so that the viewpoint position as shown in FIG. The estimating unit 31, the symbol-related data storage unit 32, the selected symbol display control unit 33, the symbol selection unit 34, the confirmed symbol display control unit 35, and the like are configured to realize the functions.

Next, each part will be described.

The viewpoint position estimation unit 31 estimates the viewpoint position of the user on the screen 21 based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection unit 4. Specifically, the line-of-sight signal is received from the line-of-sight detecting unit 4, the viewpoint position of the user on the screen 21 is estimated based on the line-of-sight signal, and the estimation indicating the coordinates of the estimated viewpoint position Le, which is the estimated viewpoint position, is performed. Outputs viewpoint position data.

The symbol-related data storage unit 32 is set in a predetermined area of the memory 302, and stores symbol-related data indicating codes of various symbols such as characters and symbols.
The "characters" referred to in the present embodiment are, for example, hiragana, katakana, kanji, numbers, alphabets and the like. The “symbol” is a figure or the like having a meaning such as a mark, pictogram, or emoticon.

The selected symbol display control unit 33 acquires the symbol-related data and the estimated viewpoint position data, generates image data based on them, and outputs the image data to the display 2. To describe it more functionally, the symbol panel 211 in which a plurality of symbols (here, hiragana) are arranged side by side is displayed on the screen 21, and the symbol panel 211 is displayed on the screen 21 based on the estimated viewpoint position Le. It is something to move.
Here, a plurality of symbols are arranged on the symbol panel 211 so as to be arranged at equal intervals in a vertical and horizontal matrix. More specifically, the symbol panel 211 is partitioned by square cells arranged vertically and horizontally. Each square defines the display area of each symbol. Then, in each square, one symbol is displayed so that the center of the square and the center position of the symbol coincide with each other.

Note that the selected symbol display control unit 33 uses the symbol panel 211 so that the symbol actually seen by the user at the time of use and the symbol closest to the estimated viewpoint position Le are the same regardless of the user. The adjacent symbols are separated from each other and displayed. That is, regardless of the shape of the eyeball, the habit of seeing the symbol, the accuracy of the estimated viewpoint position Le, and the like, no matter what user sees the character “Nu” displayed on the symbol panel 211, the estimated viewpoint is The adjacent symbols are displayed so as to be separated from each other so that the symbol closest to the position Le becomes the character "nu". Therefore, the symbol panel 211 of this embodiment is larger than the size of the screen 21, and all symbols can be selected by scrolling the symbol panel 211 as described later.

The selected symbol display control unit 33 of the present embodiment refers to the coordinates of the estimated viewpoint position Le and the coordinates of the selected position Ls preset on the screen 21, measures the distance d between them, and It is configured to move the symbol panel 211 in multiple stages according to the distance d.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the distance d between the estimated viewpoint position Le and the selected position Ls exceeds a preset predetermined value D, from the estimated viewpoint position Le. The symbol panel 211 is moved along the direction toward the selected position Ls (the direction indicated by the arrow). The speed at which the symbol panel 211 is moved is set to increase as the distance d increases.
In addition, here, when the symbol panel 211 is moved, the symbol panel 211 is configured to be scrolled along the direction from the estimated viewpoint position Le toward the selection position Ls. That is, the symbol panel is moved and a new symbol is displayed from the edge of the screen 21.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the distance d between the estimated viewpoint position Le and the selected position Ls is the predetermined value D or less, the symbol closest to the estimated viewpoint position Le is selected. The symbol panel 211 is moved so as to be drawn into the position Ls, and the coordinates of the center position of the symbol are adjusted to the coordinates of the selected position Ls. That is, the center position of the grid containing the estimated viewpoint position Le is configured to match the coordinates of the selected position Ls.
If the distance d is less than or equal to the predetermined value D and the coordinates of the center position of the symbol closest to the estimated viewpoint position Le and the coordinates of the selected position Ls match, the symbol panel 211 is not moved.

In addition to the function described above, the selected symbol display control unit 33 also surrounds the four corners of the square containing the symbol when the coordinates of the central position of the symbol and the coordinates of the selected position Ls match. The cursor 212 is displayed on the screen 21 and symbol data indicating the symbol is output. The cursor 212 is a cursor indicating that the coordinates of the center position and the coordinates of the selection position Ls match.

The symbol selection unit 34 selects one symbol at the selection position Ls. Specifically, the symbol data and the estimated viewpoint position data are acquired, based on these, the symbol indicated by the symbol data is decided as the symbol that the user wants to select, and the decided symbol data indicating the symbol is output.
Here, the symbol selection unit 34 measures the time t during which the distance d is equal to or less than the predetermined value D when the coordinates of the center position of a certain symbol and the coordinates of the selection position Ls match. Is configured. Then, when the time t exceeds a preset predetermined time T, the fixed symbol data is output.

The confirmed symbol display control unit 35 displays the symbol column display window 22 on the screen 21 in which the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit 34 are arranged and displayed in the selected order. Further, the fixed symbol data is received, and the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit 34 are displayed in the symbol array display window 22.

The confirmed symbol display control unit 35 is configured to display the symbol column display window 22 on the symbol panel 211 in a transparent manner. As a result, the user can check the symbols on the symbol panel 211 overlapping with the symbol row display window 22 by watermarking. The transparency of the symbol array display window 22 is configured to be changed appropriately.

The symbol array display window 22 is fixed at a predetermined position on the screen 21 and is configured to be displayed at all times, so that the user can always confirm the symbol array that has been confirmed by then.
4 and 6, the symbol string display window 22 is not transparently displayed for simplification of the drawings.

The confirmed symbol display control unit 35 is configured to set the position where the symbol column display window 22 is displayed to a position adjacent to the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the symbol row display window 22 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and the symbol row display window 22 is directly above the symbol (here, the character “nu”) selected by the symbol selection unit 34. It is displayed along the square that contains the symbol. That is, the lower side of the symbol array display window 22 is displayed so as to be substantially at the same height as the upper end of the square in which the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 enters, so that it does not overlap with the selected symbol. It has become. The symbol array display window 22 is fixedly displayed on the screen 21, and is displayed along the cursor 212 when the cursor 212 is displayed.

The vertical length of the symbol row display window 22 is configured to be half or less of the vertical length of each square, and the symbol adjacent to the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 (here: Then, part of the character "ni") is visible.

In the symbol array display window 22, the symbol array selected by the symbol selection unit 34 is horizontally displayed. Then, the horizontal position of the selected position Ls is set as the central position, and the selected position Ls is displayed in the symbol array display window 22 so as to be centered.
In the symbol row display window 22, the symbol rows may be displayed in one row in the horizontal direction, and a line feed may be performed when the number of selected symbols exceeds a predetermined value.

The horizontal length of the symbol row display window 22 is configured to be changed according to the number of symbols displayed in the symbol row display window 22 in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the smaller the number of symbols displayed in the symbol row display window 22 in the horizontal direction, the smaller the horizontal length of the symbol row display window 22.
The size of the symbols displayed in the symbol column display window 22 is smaller than the size of the symbols displayed in the symbol panel 211.

Next, the operation of the symbol selection device 100 having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, an operation in which the user selects the character “nu” from the symbol panel 211 displayed on the screen 21 will be exemplified. 4A to 4C show the estimated viewpoint position Le, the selected position Ls, the range of the distance D from the selected position Ls, and the direction in which the symbol panel 211 moves, but these are not described. It is shown for convenience and is not actually displayed on the screen 21.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the selected symbol display control unit 33 displays the symbol panel 211 in which a plurality of characters are arranged on the screen 21 of the display 2 (step S1). The user looks at the character “nu” displayed on the symbol panel 211.

The line-of-sight detection unit 4 detects the line of sight of the user and outputs this as a line-of-sight signal (step S2). Upon receiving the line-of-sight signal from the line-of-sight detection unit 4, the viewpoint position estimation unit 31 estimates the position of the user's viewpoint on the screen 21 based on the line-of-sight signal (step S3). Here, the user actually looks at the center of the character "nu", but the estimated estimated viewpoint position Le is slightly lower right from the center of the character "nu" as shown in FIG. is there.

Since the distance d between the estimated viewpoint position Le and the selected position Ls exceeds a preset predetermined value D, the selected symbol display control unit 33 selects from the estimated viewpoint position Le as shown in FIG. The symbol panel 211 is moved along the direction toward the position Ls (steps S4 and S5). At this time, the user moves his or her line of sight to follow the moving character "nu." Then, the estimated viewpoint position Le also moves accordingly. That is, as the character "nu" on the symbol panel 211 approaches the selection position Ls, the estimated viewpoint position Le also approaches the selection position Ls.

Then, when the user continues to follow the moving character "nu", the distance d between the estimated viewpoint position Le and the selected position Ls gradually becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value D. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the selected symbol display control unit 33 moves the character "nu" closest to the estimated viewpoint position Le so as to be drawn into the selected position Ls, and moves to the central position of the character "nu". Is aligned with the selected position Ls and the cursor 212 is displayed (steps S4 and S6).

When the user sees the character "nu" for a predetermined time T seconds or longer while the center position of the character "nu" is at the selection position Ls, the symbol selection unit 34 determines the character "nu" as the character the user wants to select. , And outputs the confirmed symbol data (step S7). Then, the confirmed symbol display control unit 35 displays the character "nu" in the symbol column display window 22 displayed immediately above the character "nu" at the selected position Ls (step S8).

In the symbol selection device 100 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the symbol column display window 22 is displayed at a position adjacent to one symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34, so that the user can select the symbol to be selected. After selecting and selecting, the symbol array displayed in the symbol array display window 22 can be confirmed without moving the line of sight greatly. That is, since the user does not have to move his or her line of sight to pass over a plurality of other symbols displayed on the screen 21 in order to confirm the selected symbol sequence, erroneous selection of symbols is reduced. be able to. Further, since it is not necessary to move the line of sight greatly between the selected symbol and the symbol array display window 22, the user can easily confirm the selected symbol array.

Further, since the selection position Ls is fixed to the central position on the screen 21, the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 is always selected at the same position on the screen 21 (that is, the selection position Ls). As a result, the symbol array display window 22 is always displayed at the same position on the screen 21 (that is, in the vicinity of the selected position Ls), so that the user can easily check the symbol array in the symbol array display window 22.

Further, the confirmed symbol display control unit 35 displays the symbol column display window 22 so that at least a part of each of the symbols adjacent to the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 can be seen. While is displayed, the user can check all the symbols displayed on the screen 21. Therefore, the user can more easily find the symbol to be selected next.

Further, since the symbol array display window 22 is transparently displayed on the symbol panel 211, the user can check all the symbols displayed on the symbol panel 221. This makes it easier to find the next symbol to select.

Further, the confirmed symbol display control unit 35 horizontally displays the selected symbol array in the symbol array display window 22 and sets the symbol array to the central coordinate position in the horizontal direction of the center of the selected symbol. Since it is displayed in the center alignment, the user can check the entire symbol sequence more easily by slightly shifting the line of sight from the symbol that is actually seen.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the symbol panel 211 displayed on the screen 21 is moved based on the estimated viewpoint position Le estimated by the estimated viewpoint position estimation unit 31 to adjust the center position of the desired symbol to the selected position Ls. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
In another embodiment, a symbol is selected by displaying a pointer such as an arrow at the estimated viewpoint position Le estimated by the estimated viewpoint position estimation unit 31 and adjusting the pointer to the center position of the symbol by moving the line of sight. It may be configured as follows. Further, in this embodiment, the symbol array display window 22 may move on the screen 21 as the estimated viewpoint position Le (that is, the pointer displayed on the screen) moves. Specifically, the symbol row display window 22 may be displayed at a position adjacent to the symbol closest to the estimated viewpoint position Le.

Although the coordinates of the selected position Ls are set to be the same as the center coordinates of the screen 21 in the previous embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be set to a coordinate other than the center coordinates of the screen 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the plurality of symbols are arranged on the symbol panel 211 so as to be arranged at equal intervals in a vertical and horizontal matrix, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, they may be arranged on the symbol panel 211 so as to be arranged radially. Further, the intervals between the symbols do not have to be equal.

In another embodiment, when the symbol on the symbol panel 211 is a symbol and the symbol selection unit 34 selects the symbol at the selection position Ls, the selected symbol display control unit 33 further changes the selected symbol to one selected symbol. It may be configured to newly display one or a plurality of previously associated symbols on the screen 21.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the symbol selection unit 34 selects a symbol at the selection position Ls (here, a symbol meaning “hot spring”), the symbol is displayed next to the symbol. The related symbol panel 213 in which a plurality of associated symbols (here, symbols indicating various transportation means) are arranged may be displayed.
Then, based on the estimated viewpoint position Le, the related symbol panel 213 may be moved on the screen 21 in the same manner as the above-described symbol panel 211 is moved so that a desired symbol can be selected. ..

In another embodiment, the selected symbol display control unit 33 displays the selected symbols in the symbol array display window 22 and displays a message corresponding to a combination of these symbols in the symbol array display window 22. It may be configured as follows.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the symbol selecting unit 34 selects a symbol that means “hot spring” and then a symbol that means “bus”, It may be arranged to display in the row display window 22 after these two symbols the message "I want to go to the hot spring by bus".

In another embodiment, the selected symbol display control unit 33 displays a message corresponding to a combination of these symbols in the symbol column display window instead of displaying the selected symbols in the symbol column display window 22. 22 may be configured to be displayed.

In the above-described embodiment, the symbol column display window 22 is displayed directly above the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit 34, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the symbol column display window 22 may be displayed immediately below the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit 34. It may be displayed. That is, the upper side of the symbol row display window 22 may be displayed so as to be substantially the same height as the lower end of the square in which the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 is contained.
Further, the symbols displayed in the symbol row display window 22 are not limited to the center alignment, and may be left alignment or right alignment.

In another embodiment, the symbol column display window 22 may be displayed to the right or left of the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit 34 so as to be adjacent to the symbol. In this case, the symbol row display window 22 may be a vertically long rectangular symbol row display window 22, and the symbols may be displayed vertically. Further, in this case, the symbol array displayed in the symbol array display window 22 is displayed so as to be centered with the vertical coordinate position of the center of the symbol selected in the symbol selection unit 34 as the central position. May be configured to be.
Further, the symbol columns displayed in the symbol column display window 22 are not limited to the center alignment, and may be top alignment or bottom alignment.

In the above-described embodiment, the vertical length of the symbol array display window 22 is configured to be half the vertical length of each square or less, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In the above-described embodiment, the symbol panel 211 is larger than the screen 21, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be smaller than the screen 21. That is, all the symbols displayed on the symbol panel 211 may be displayed on the screen 21 at once.

Although square cells are displayed on the symbol panel 211 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. The grid may be hidden.

In the above-described embodiment, when the coordinates of the center position of a symbol and the coordinates of the selection position Ls match, the symbol selection unit 34 allows the user to view the symbol for a predetermined time T or more, thereby determining the fixed symbol data. It was configured to output, but is not limited to this.
In another embodiment, the symbol selection unit 34 is configured to output fixed symbol data by blinking by the user when the coordinates of the center position of a symbol and the coordinates of the selection position Ls match. It may have been done.

The line-of-sight detecting means 4 in the above-described embodiment is a so-called attachment type, but is not limited to this, and may be a wearable type such as a pair of glasses.

In the embodiment, the display 2 and the computer main body 3 are integrally provided in the notebook computer 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. The desktop personal computer may be provided integrally, or the display 2 and the computer main body 3 may be provided in different devices. The display 2 may be composed of a projector and a projection screen.

Besides, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100... Symbol selection device 21... Screen 211... Symbol panel 22... Symbol row display window 31... Viewpoint position estimation unit 33... Selected symbol display control unit 34... Symbol selection unit 35... Confirmed symbol display control unit 4... Line-of-sight detection means Ls... Selection position Le... Estimated viewpoint position

Claims (7)

A symbol selection device capable of selecting a plurality of symbols such as characters and symbols displayed on a screen from the user's line of sight,
A line-of-sight detection means for detecting the line of sight of the user directed to the screen,
A symbol selection unit that selects one symbol from a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection unit;
A symbol column display window that displays the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit side by side in the order of selection, and a defined symbol display control unit that displays on the screen,
The confirmed symbol display control unit,
A display position of the symbol row display window is set to a position adjacent to one symbol selected by the symbol selection unit , and
In the symbol array display window, the symbol array is displayed with the center aligned with the coordinate position in the lateral direction of the selected one symbol as the center . A viewpoint position estimation unit that estimates the viewpoint position of the user on the screen based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection means,
Based on the estimated viewpoint position which is the viewpoint position estimated by the viewpoint position estimating unit, a desired one symbol of a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen is set to a selected position preset on the screen. A selection symbol display control unit to be moved,
Further equipped with,
The selected position is fixed to a predetermined position on the screen,
The symbol selection device according to claim 1, wherein the symbol selection unit selects one symbol at the selection position. The fixed symbol display control unit displays the symbol column display window so that at least a part of each of a plurality of symbols adjacent to the symbol selected by the symbol selection unit can be seen. Symbol selection device. The symbol selection device according to claim 1, wherein the confirmed symbol display control unit transparently displays the symbol column display window. The fixed symbol display control unit displays the plurality of selected symbols in the symbol column display window, or instead of displaying the plurality of selected symbols in the symbol column display window, the selection and a plurality of messages corresponding to a combination of symbols displayed on the symbol columns displayed in the window, the symbol selection device according to any one of claims 1-4. The selected symbol display control unit, when the symbol selection unit selects one symbol, newly displays one or a plurality of symbols associated with the selected one symbol on the screen. 5. The symbol selection device according to any one of 5 to 6 . A program that is applied to a symbol selection device that includes a line-of-sight detection unit that detects the line of sight of the user who is directed to the screen, and that allows a plurality of symbols such as characters and symbols displayed on the screen to be selected by the line of sight of the user And
A function as a symbol selection unit that selects one symbol from a plurality of symbols displayed on the screen based on the detection result of the line-of-sight detection means;
A symbol column display window that displays the symbols selected by the symbol selection unit side by side in the selected order is displayed on the screen, and the display position of the symbol column display window is selected by the symbol selection unit. A fixed symbol display control that sets a position adjacent to one symbol and displays the symbol column in the symbol column display window with center alignment centered on the coordinate position of the selected one symbol in the horizontal direction. Function as a department,
A program for a symbol selection device, which causes a computer to exercise the following.