Mick Ebeling: The invention that unlocked a locked-in artist

TL;DR

The EyeWriter is a device that allows paralyzed individuals, like graffiti artist TEMPT who has ALS, to communicate and create artwork using only their eyes.

Transcript

I have had the distinct blessing in my life to have worked on a bunch of amazing projects. But the coolest I ever worked on was around this guy. This guy's name is TEMPT. TEMPT was one of the foremost graffiti artists in the 80s. And he came up home from a run one day and said, "Dad, my legs are tingling." And that was the onset of ALS. So TEMPT is... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎨 Art and Communication Accessibility:
• The speaker encountered Tony, a graffiti artist with ALS, and discovered that many paralyzed individuals do not have access to communication devices like Stephen Hawking's machine.
• Inspired by Graffiti Research Lab's technology, the speaker and a group of programmers created the EyeWriter, a device that allows paralyzed individuals to communicate and create art using only their eyes.
• The EyeWriter is a cheap, DIY device that is accessible to anyone, regardless of insurance or hospital restrictions.
• The speaker collaborated with programmers, hackers, and conspiracy theorists from around the world to develop the EyeWriter, even hosting them in their own home.
• Despite skepticism from friends, the collaboration and innovation led to the creation of an extraordinary device that has no limitations.
• After a year of planning and programming, Tony was able to draw again for the first time in seven years using the EyeWriter in front of his family and friends.
• Tony's email expressing his gratitude and the feeling of finally being able to breathe again serves as the team's motivation to continue developing and improving the device.
• The EyeWriter project has received various awards and recognition, including being named one of Time magazine's top 50 inventions of 2010.
• The project's achievements are especially notable considering that it is entirely self-funded and offered for free to benefit paralyzed individuals.
• 🌍 Making the Impossible Possible:
• The speaker's message is to encourage everyone to take action when they see something that they believe can be made possible.
• Through collaboration and association with incredible people, the speaker, who had no programming experience, was able to contribute to a groundbreaking project.
• In April of that year, the Geffen MOCA in Los Angeles planned an exhibition called "Art of the Streets," which would feature prominent street artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey.
• Tony, also known as TEMPT, was invited to participate in the exhibition, showcasing his artwork created with the help of the EyeWriter.
• The speaker urges listeners to ask themselves, "If not now, then when?" and "If not me, then who?" when they recognize something that needs to be done.
• Taking action and associating themselves with amazing people can lead to making a difference and creating possibilities.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the team overcome the limitations of insurance and hospital restrictions to provide TEMPT with a communication device?

To overcome these limitations, the team worked tirelessly to rally support and create their own affordable and accessible device, the EyeWriter, which bypassed the need for insurance approval or hospital permissions.

Q: How does the EyeWriter work and what materials are needed to build it?

The EyeWriter uses a hacked PS3 camera, mounted to an LED light, that tracks eye movement. It is built using simple materials like cheap sunglasses, copper wire, and components from Home Depot and Radio Shack.

Q: How did TEMPT react when he was able to draw again using the EyeWriter?

TEMPT's first drawing after seven years brought immense joy and relief. He expressed gratitude for finally being able to express himself creatively again, comparing it to being pulled out from underwater and able to breathe freely.

Q: What recognition did the EyeWriter project receive?

The EyeWriter project received various awards and distinctions, including being named one of Time magazine's top 50 inventions of 2010. Additionally, TEMPT's artwork using the EyeWriter was showcased in an exhibition alongside other renowned street artists.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• TEMPT, a renowned graffiti artist, developed ALS and lost the ability to communicate and create art.

• Traditional communication devices were not accessible to him, so a team of designers and programmers created the EyeWriter.

• The EyeWriter is a device that uses eye movement to control a laser and allows paralyzed individuals to communicate and create art.