RI-SCALE Project secures funding from Horizon Europe
The RI-SCALE project, in which Masaryk University is involved, has been accepted for funding under the prestigious Horizon Europe program.
Revolution in Dyslexia Diagnosis: AI and Eye-Tracking Are Changing the Game
Researchers from Masaryk University, in collaboration with HUME Lab – the Laboratory for Experimental Humanities – are developing a unique system for accurate and rapid dyslexia diagnosis. The project, supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR), represents a fundamental breakthrough: diagnostic methods are shifting from paper-based tests and stopwatches to digital technologies.
The patient sits in front of a monitor equipped with an eye tracker – a device that uses infrared light to record eye movements. The system measures where and for how long the reader's gaze pauses – for example, on a specific syllable or word. These data are then analyzed using specially trained neural networks.
So far, the research team has tested the system on approximately seventy volunteers, including individuals diagnosed with dyslexia and those without. The results are auspicious: the artificial intelligence can identify whether the eye-tracking data comes from a child with dyslexia with up to 90% accuracy. “In other words – if we wanted to determine whether any given child has dyslexia, our AI model would make a correct prediction with 90% probability. That is a very high value in the context of social measurement,” explains Nicol Dostálová from the Department of Educational Sciences at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.
The team aims to develop a tool that is easy to apply in practice. “We want diagnosticians to be able to implement the method seamlessly into their everyday practice. We have prepared special manuals for them, although I believe launching the application is relatively straightforward,” says Dostálová. However, she points out one major challenge – the acquisition cost of the eye-tracking devices. Nevertheless, the team is optimistic that, within a few years, the technology could become accessible, at least in the counseling centers they have been working with. “The reception from professionals in specialized counseling centers has been positive. It seems that they are welcoming the method,” she adds.
““We want diagnosticians to be able to implement the method seamlessly into their everyday practice. We have prepared special manuals for them, although I believe launching the application is relatively straightforward,””
Nicol Dostálová, FF MU
In the future, the system has the potential to be introduced in mainstream schools, where it could assist with the early detection of dyslexia using portable devices. This technology could significantly transform approaches to early diagnosis, enhancing educational opportunities for children with reading disorders.
The principal investigator of the project is Roman Švaříček, and HUME Lab provided the eye-tracking equipment.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence, Masaryk University once again positions itself as a leader in innovation in research data and diagnostics – bringing tangible benefits to children, educators, and counseling professionals.
Czech Radio also reported on this revolutionary approach to dyslexia diagnosis, with the reporter trying the diagnostic device on himself. Don’t miss the report produced this March – read or listen now to explore how this groundbreaking technology works in practice.
