I happened to read this article called “OPENING THE THIRD EYE” in the Business Line dated 7th November 2011. The article is about how eye tracking is going to be the next step in controlling the gadgets after touchscreens and gesture recognition. Its a very well known fact that the pace at which technological advancements are happening is mind-boggling!
Intuitive and direct control of computers is the new frontier of technology. Apple achieved a milestone step in the evolution of intuitive interfaces by developing the multitouch surface for its iPhone and iPad. Microsoft’s Kinect has sold millions of units and this is another approach that frees users from physical contact with a device. With the concept of eye tracking you might not need to control the computer with deliberate actions at all. Instead it will recognize where you are looking, understand what you want to do and react accordingly.
A computer controlled by the eye will scroll down when you reach the end of the page while reading. It will offer definitions of the words or translations if your eye lingers on a particular word for sometime. You will get real eye contact with characters in 3D video games. Such levels of control are possible because of the way the eye functions. The eye has to focus on an object for at least 50 milliseconds to recognize what it is.
Eye control is not going to completely replace current input devices like mouse and keyboard, but add to them. For example, a user could control the mouse pointer with his eye, while his hands rests on a button and just clicks. That works very fast and reduces micro-movements of the arm muscles that often lead to shoulder and back problems.
The researchers claim that eye tracking will add new life and realism to the businesses, entertainment and educational software. However, the million dollar question is that, with the hazardous heat transmission and high intensities of infra red light (with their wavelengths ranging from 700-1400 as defined by the International Commission on Illumination) causing damage to the skin and eyes, how far is this new technology going to do any good ?
Intuitive and direct control of computers is the new frontier of technology. Apple achieved a milestone step in the evolution of intuitive interfaces by developing the multitouch surface for its iPhone and iPad. Microsoft’s Kinect has sold millions of units and this is another approach that frees users from physical contact with a device. With the concept of eye tracking you might not need to control the computer with deliberate actions at all. Instead it will recognize where you are looking, understand what you want to do and react accordingly.
A computer controlled by the eye will scroll down when you reach the end of the page while reading. It will offer definitions of the words or translations if your eye lingers on a particular word for sometime. You will get real eye contact with characters in 3D video games. Such levels of control are possible because of the way the eye functions. The eye has to focus on an object for at least 50 milliseconds to recognize what it is.
HOW IT WORKS
In order to grasp fixations, a webcam which is built into a notebook or a specialized camera accessory like the Microsoft Kinect has to emit an invisible infrared pattern that is reflected by the eyes. The eye tracker captures these reflections and analyzes them.
Eye control is not going to completely replace current input devices like mouse and keyboard, but add to them. For example, a user could control the mouse pointer with his eye, while his hands rests on a button and just clicks. That works very fast and reduces micro-movements of the arm muscles that often lead to shoulder and back problems.
The researchers claim that eye tracking will add new life and realism to the businesses, entertainment and educational software. However, the million dollar question is that, with the hazardous heat transmission and high intensities of infra red light (with their wavelengths ranging from 700-1400 as defined by the International Commission on Illumination) causing damage to the skin and eyes, how far is this new technology going to do any good ?
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