Head tracking explained: hands-free communication

The Speech Assistant Team

June 2026 · 5 min read

For users with limited motor control, touching a screen accurately can be tiring or impossible. Head Tracking removes touch from the equation entirely.

What it uses

Speech Assistant uses Apple's ARKit face tracking to follow the position of your head in real time. Move your head, and a pointer moves across the board. Rest on a tile to select it.

Tuning it for comfort

• Dwell time — how long to rest before a tile activates. Start longer, shorten as confidence grows.
• Sensitivity — how far your head must move to reach the edges of the board.
• Board size — fewer, larger tiles are easier to target in early sessions.

When to reach for it

Head Tracking shines in longer sessions where repeated touch would cause fatigue, and for users who communicate best when their hands are free.