Eye-tracking is already well known in
consumer behavioural studies. It has now been extended to enable remote
control of computers for the mass market, with a variety of potential
adaptations in other fields.
Could the average consumer soon be able to use just his/her eyes to control a computer? This is the prediction of
Antoine Luu, Area Manager for Western Europe at
Tobii Technology, a firm which specialises in eye-tracking. L’Atelier caught up with him at the
Printemps des Etudes
conference which took place on 4-5 April at the Palais Brongniart in
Paris. Tobii has hitherto been providing companies with consumer
behaviour analysis based on eye-tracking. The Swedish company is now
planning to go to market at the end of the year with a system for the
general public which can be linked up to a personal computer and will
then use infrared sensors to work out what exactly the user is looking
at and enable him/her to give commands to the computer using eyes only.
And there will be no need to use the special glasses needed for other
eye-tracking-based remote control applications.
Calibrating the system
In detail, the system developed by Tobii comprises a sensor loaded
with infrared micro-projectors, optical sensors and an image processor.
To make it work, you first need to install the sensor on your PC,
between the screen and the keyboard, and then link it to the computer by
plugging it into a USB port. Next the micro-projectors must be
calibrated to sense what exactly you are looking at and what your
intentions are, based on five points fixed to the computer screen, which
serve to synchronise your eye movement with the sensor. Once you have
completed this set-up phase, every time you subsequently look at the
screen, it will respond to your gaze and follow your ocular
instructions. For example, if you wish to read through a document
online, you just have to look at the top of the screen in order to
scroll up or at the bottom when you are ready to go down. However, to
prevent the page from sliding around every time your eyes move, you can
block and unblock the function by clicking on the space bar of the
keyboard.
Wide range of potential uses
The system could also be extremely useful in what are known as
augmentative and alternative communication solutions for people with
physical disabilities, including impaired speech. It could potentially
enable them to write with their eyes using a digital keyboard. Another
similar use would be to develop communication systems for autistic
children, based on interpreting their gaze. Another area where there are
plans to use the eye-tracking system is in a heads-up display in an
automobile. A transparent display can be placed at head height, so that
drivers will not only be able to view the dashboard information – speed,
time, fuel tank, etc – but also, using the eye-tracking sensors, switch
radio and music on and off and use the GPS, without taking their eyes
off the road. It could moreover be used in ‘Advanced Driver Assistance’
systems inter alia to detect driver drowsiness and so promote greater
safety at the wheel.
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