Real-Time Eye-Tracking

About

Real-Time Eye-Tracking for Human-Computer Interaction Description: The ability to capture and use the direction the eyes point in while the subject is a distance away from the camera offers the potential for intuitive human-computer interfaces, allowing for greater interactivity, more intelligent behavior, and increased design flexibility. The novel, simple system detects the face from a fixed, wide-angle camera, estimates a rough location for the eye region using an eye detector based on topographic features, and directs another active, pan-tilt-zoom camera to focus in on this eye region. An eye gaze estimation approach also enables a natural, non-intrusive point-of-regard (PoG) tracking. To allow for greater head pose freedom, a calibration approach finds the 3D eyeball location, eyeball radius, and fovea position, maps the eyeball sphere (creating a 3D iris disk) and computes the visual gaze direction. Advantages: Non-intrusive to user Uses a regular camera (no infrared, no stereo cameras needed) 3D eye ball estimation 3D pose-invariant Feasible for gaze tracking over distance Potential Applications: There are numerous applications of the eye gaze tracking technology, including, but not limited to: Actuation of vehicle control dashboard or instrument cluster operations. Small or large surfaces, particularly large displays or projected wall or semi-transparent surfaces, including but not limited to LCD screens, computer screens, classroom boards, kiosks, etc. Gaming devices, portable or otherwise, providing extra channels of interaction. Development Status: Prototyped. Intellectual Property Position: U.S. Patent No. 8,885,882 and patent pending.