Brief description of the organization
Project Accord is a Toronto-based deep-tech accessibility initiative focused on engineering advanced wearable optoelectronic devices. We recently filed a USPTO provisional patent for a multi-layered composite lens system designed to normalize perceived gaze for individuals living with strabismus and amblyopia—a visual and social challenge impacting 5% of Canadians and over 300 million people worldwide. Our mission is to merge real-time eye-tracking computer vision with dynamic display optics to restore confidence and natural gaze alignment for the global ocular health community.
Problem area
Current treatments for strabismus (eye misalignment) and amblyopia (lazy eye) rely on static corrective lenses or invasive surgical procedures that do not adapt dynamically. For millions globally, eye misalignment creates severe social anxiety and atypical eye contact. Project Accord addresses this by engineering an active optoelectronic composite lens system that dynamically shifts light paths in real time. The lens technology adjusts the optical path of the misaligned eye relative to an observer, allowing perceived eye contact to appear straight and naturally aligned regardless of the user's gaze angle.
Main objectives
- Build a functional V1 bench prototype of an optoelectronic lens system using dynamic micro-displays or electro-optic light-refraction elements.
- Integrate an active infrared (IR) eye-tracking module to capture real-time pupil deflection and target viewer alignment angles with low latency.
- Implement embedded software control algorithms to map gaze angles and dynamically output visual adjustments to the composite lens.
- Evaluate system latency, optical clarity, power efficiency, and physical form-factor feasibility for future frame integration.
Scope of work
- Literature & hardware scoping: Review optical refraction formulas, micro-display options, IR camera modules, and patent background specs.
- Subsystem development: Set up high-speed IR eye tracking (internal pupil tracking & external orientation detection); program embedded microcontrollers (ESP32/STM32/FPGA); build display driver control circuits.
- Algorithm integration: Translate real-time gaze deflection inputs into optical correction outputs.
- Benchtop prototype assembly & testing: Enclosure construct
Deliverables
- Report
- Presentation
- Resources
- V1 bench proof-of-concept hardware
- Embedded codebase/IR tracking repository
- PCB schematics
- Technical documentation
Team meeting frequency
Bi-weekly
Skills and training required
- Embedded systems programming (C/C++, Python)
- Real-time computer vision / image processing (OpenCV)
- Circuit design / PCB layout
- Optoelectronic system integration
- Rapid 3D CAD modeling
- Hardware testing/debugging
(Preferred Disciplines: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Systems Design Engineering, or Software Engineering).
Resources required
- Standard electronics lab tools (benchtop power supply, oscilloscope, circuit breadboarding/soldering tools)
- optical bench mounting hardware
- Microcontrollers/FPGAs (ESP32 / STM32 / FPGA dev boards)
- IR camera sensors
- Electro-optic display elements
- Standard software development environments
- Project Accord will directly provide core component funding
- Custom optics
- Hardware materials
NDA or a commercialization agreement for this project?
Yes