A voice for people who can only blink.
Nictavia turns a laptop and its camera into a communication interface operated entirely by eyelid movement — speak, write, send messages and call for help, with nothing but a blink.
The whole idea, in one picture
You blink fifteen to twenty times a minute without meaning to. Nictavia ignores all of it. Only a deliberate, held closure does anything — which is why it is safe to use all day.
Options light up in turn
A normal blink — ignored
Eyes closed… the scan waits
Chosen — and spoken aloud
- Under 0.3 s — a natural blink. Ignored, always.
- About 1 s — chooses whatever is lit. The scan stops the moment your eyes close, so it cannot move on without you.
- Twice in a row — goes back.
- Held longer — pauses everything, so you can rest or watch television.
A two-minute film with a real user is being made; until then, the test below runs on your own face.
Try it now, with your own eyes
Ten seconds, no account. Your camera is analysed in your browser and never leaves your computer — nothing is uploaded or recorded. Look at the camera, then close your eyes for about a second.
Camera is off.
Eye openness
Short blinks are ignored on purpose — that is what makes it usable. A long blink selects. Two long blinks go back. A very long blink sleeps.
Who it is for
People
Anyone whose eyelids move when little else does: ALS / MND, locked-in syndrome after brainstem stroke, advanced MS, high spinal injury, Guillain-Barré recovery.
Families and carers
Set it up in minutes on the laptop you already have. Get an alert on your phone the moment they call for help.
Hospitals, hospices, care homes
Runs in a browser on any recent laptop. No installation, no accounts, no data leaves the device. Details for clinicians.
Free for individuals. Always.
A person who cannot move should not have to buy their voice. Nictavia is free for individuals and families, without limits.
Institutions that want support, training or deployment help can make an enquiry.