# S1E50 Turning Personal Challenges into New Technology | Robert Chappell

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2020-11-13
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 50
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell

## Summary

Robert Chappell, Founder and Chief Science Officer at EyeTech Digital Systems, explains how a severe repetitive strain injury led him to develop eye-tracking technology for computer access. He details the transition from a crude prototype to a commercial product, noting how the market shifted from users with RSIs to the AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) community for severely disabled users. Chappell discusses the technical evolution from analog cameras to USB digital solutions, the challenges of image processing with glasses, and the strategic decision to accept venture funding to compete with larger tech acquisitions.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=0) Introduction: Robert Chappell and EyeTech Digital Systems
- [1:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=87) Engineering DNA and Early Career at Goodyear Aerospace
- [7:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=469) Pipeline Pig Project and Signal Processing in Tulsa
- [12:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=728) Repetitive Strain Injury and the Inspiration for Eye Tracking
- [19:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=1154) Building the First Prototype and Initial Sale
- [23:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=1380) Market Validation and Pivot to the AAC Industry
- [27:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=1636) Technical Challenges: Digital Cameras, USB, and Image Processing
- [32:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=1972) Raising Venture Funding and Preparing Quantitative Plans
- [39:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-11-13-s1e50-turning-personal-challenges-into-new-technology-robert-chappell#t=2356) Company Culture, Leadership Transition, and Organizational Structure

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- EyeTech Digital Systems (company)
- Goodyear Aerospace (company)
- TD Williamson (company)
- Lockheed (company)
- Facebook (company)
- Google (company)
- Apple (company)
- Windows 95 (other)
- Quick Access (product)
- Slack (tool)

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- [230: Shark Tank, Advanced Prosthetics, and How PSYONIC's Ability Hand is Driving Accessibility for Humans and Robots Featuring PSYONIC CEO & Founder Dr. Aadeel Akhtar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-08-230-shark-tank-advanced-prosthetics-and-how-psyonics-ability-hand-is-driving-acc) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Fitbit: James Park](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-27-fitbit-james-park) (How I Built This)
- [An interview with Jeri Ellsworth - Absorptive Augmented Actuality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-29-an-interview-with-jeri-ellsworth-absorptive-augmented-actuality) (The Amp Hour)
- [Strava: Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-05-02-strava-mark-gainey-and-michael-horvath) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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