Introduction

Eye-gaze as a form of human machine interface holds great promise for

improving the way we interact with machines. Eye-gaze tracking devices that
are non-contact, non-restrictive, accurate and easy to use will increase the
appeal for including eye-gaze information in future applications. The system
we have developed and which we describe in this paper achieves these goals
using a single high resolution camera with a fixed field of view. The single
camera system has no moving parts which results in rapid reacquisition of the
eye after loss of tracking. Free head motion is achieved using multiple glints
and 3D modeling techniques. Accuracies of under 1 of visual angle are
achieved over a field of view of 14x12x20 cm and over various hardware
configurations, camera resolutions and frame rates.

1.1Eye Gaze Tracking Under Natural Head Movements

Most available remote eye gaze trackers based on Pupil Center Corneal
Reaction (PCCR) technique have two characteristics that prevent them from
being widely used as an important computer input device for human computer
interaction. First, they must often be calibrated repeatedly for each individual;
second, they have low tolerance for head movements and require the user to
hold the head uncomfortably still. In this paper, we propose a novel solution
for the classical PCCR technique that will simplify the calibration procedure
and allow free head movements. The core of our method is to analytically
obtain a head mapping function to compensate head movement. Specifically,
the head mapping function allows to automatically map the eye movement
measurement under an arbitrary head position to a reference head position so
that the gaze can be estimated from the mapped eye measurement with respect
to the reference head position. Furthermore, our method minimizes the
calibration procedure to only one time for each individual. Our proposed
method will significantly improve the usability of the eye gaze tracking
technology, which is a major step for eye tracker to be accepted as a natural
computer input device.
1

Eye Gaze is defined as the line of sight of a person. It represents a persons

focus of attention. Eye gaze tracking has been an active research topic for
many decades because of its potential usages in various applications such as
Human Computer Interaction, Eye Disease Diagnosis, Human Behavior
Study, etc. Earlier eye gaze trackers were fairly intrusive in that they require
physical contacts with the user, such as placing a reactive white dot directly
onto the eye or attaching a number of electrodes around the eye. Except the
intrusive properties, most of these technologies also require the viewers head
to be motionless during eye tracking. With the rapid technological
advancements in both video cameras and microcomputers, eye gaze tracking
technology based on the digital video analysis of eye movements has been
widely explored.

CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION
2.1

Introduction

The Eyegaze System is a communication and control system for people with
complex physical disabilities. You run the system with your eyes. By looking
at control keys displayed on a screen, a person can synthesize speech, control
his environment (lights, appliances, etc.), type, operate a telephone, run
computer software, operate a computer mouse, and access the Internet and email. Eyegaze Systems are being used to write books, attend school and
enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities all over the world.
Imagine yourself being a intelligent, motivated, and working person in the
fiercely competitive market of information technology, but just one problem
You can't use your hands. Or you can't speak. How do you do your job? How
do you stay employed? You can, because of a very good gift from computer
Industry : The Eyegaze, a communication & control system you run with
your eyes.
The Eyegaze System is a direct-select vision-controlled communication and
control system. It was developed in Fairfax, Virginia, by LC Technologies,
Inc.,
2.2 Block Diagram:
3

Figure: Block Diagram of Eyegaze System

CHAPTER 3
THE SKILLS NEEDED BY THE USER
This system is mainly developed for those who lack the use of their hands or
voice. Only requirements to operate the Eyegaze are control of at least one eye
with good vision & ability to keep head fairly still. Eyegaze Systems are in
use around the world. Its users are adults and children with cerebral palsy,
spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, ALS, multiple sclerosis, brainstem strokes,
muscular dystrophy, and Werdnig-Hoffman syndrome. Eyegaze Systems are
being used in homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
By looking at control keys displayed on a screen, a person can synthesize
speech, control his environment (lights, appliances, etc.), type, operate a
telephone, run computer software, operate a computer mouse, and access the
Internet and e-mail. Eyegaze Systems are being used to write books, attend
school and enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities all over the
world.

Figure: An example of fixations and saccades over text. This is the typical
pattern of eye movement during reading. The eyes never move smoothly
over still text.

3.1 Good control of one eye:

The user must be able to look up, down, left and right. He must be able to fix
his gaze on all areas of a 15-inch screen that is about 24 inches in front of his
face. He must be able to focus on one spot for at least 1/2 second.
Several common eye movement problems may interfere with Eyegaze use.
These include:
Nystagmus (constant, involuntary movement of the eyeball):
The user may not be able to fix his gaze long enough to make eyegaze
selections.
Alternating strabismus (eyes cannot be directed to the same object, either one
deviates):
6

The Eyegaze System is constantly tracking the same single eye. If, for
example, a user with alternating strabismus is operating the Eyegaze System
with the right eye, and that eye begins to deviate, the left eye will take over
and focus on the screen. The Eyegaze camera, however, will continue to take
pictures of the right eye, and the System will not be able to determine where
the user's left eye is focused. When the left eye deviates and the right eye is
again fixed on the screen the Eyegaze System will resume predicting the
gazepoint. Putting a partial eye patch over the nasal side of the eye not being
observed by the camera often solves this tracking problem. Since only the
unpatched eye can the screen, it will continuously focus on the screen. By
applying only a nasal-side patch to the other eye, the user will retain
peripheral vision on that side.

3.2 Adequate vision:

Several common vision problems may affect a user's ability to see text clearly
on the Eyegaze monitor. These include the following:
Inadequate Visual acuity:
The user must be able to see text on the screen clearly. If, prior to his injury or
the onset of his illness he wore glasses, he may need corrective lenses to
operate the Eyegaze System. If he's over 40 years old and has not had his
vision checked recently, he might need reading glasses in order to see the
screen clearly.
In most cases, eyetracking works well with glasses. The calibration procedure
accommodates for the refractive properties of most lenses. Hard-line bifocals
7

can be a problem if the lens boundary splits the image of the pupil, making it
difficult for the system's image processing software to determine the pupil
center accurately. Graded bifocals, however, typically do not interfere with
eyetracking.
Soft contact lenses that cover all or most of the cornea generally work well
with the Eyegaze System. The corneal reflection is obtained from the contact
lens surface rather than the cornea itself. Small, hard contacts can interfere, if
the lens moves around considerably on the cornea and causes the corneal
reflection to move across the discontinuity between the contact lens and the
cornea.
Diplopia (double vision):
Diplopia may be the result of an injury to the brain, or a side effect of many
commonly prescribed medications, and may make it difficult for the user to
fix his gaze on a given point. Partially patching the eye not being tracked may
alleviate double vision during Eyegaze System operation.
Blurred vision:
Another occurrence associated with some brain injuries, as well as a side
effect of medications, a blurred image on the screen decreases the accuracy of
eye fixations.
Cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye):
If a cataract has formed on the portion of the lens that covers the pupil, it may
prevent light from passing through the pupil to reflect off the retina. Without a
good retinal reflection the Eyegaze System cannot accurately predict the user's
eye fixations. The clouded lens may also make it difficult for a user to see text
8

on the screen clearly. Surgical removal of the cataracts will normally solve the
problem and make Eyegaze use possible.
Homonymous hemianopsia (blindness or defective vision in the right or left
halves of the visual fields of both eyes):
This may make calibration almost impossible if the user cannot see calibration
points on one side of the screen.

3.3 Ability to maintain a position in front of the Eyegaze

monitor:
It is generally easiest to run the System from an upright, seated position, with
the head centered in front of the Eyegaze monitor. However the Eyegaze
System can be operated from a semi-reclined position if necessary.
Continuous, uncontrolled head movement can make Eyegaze operation
difficult, since the Eyegaze System must relocate the eye each time the user
moves away from the camera's field of view and then returns. Even though the
System's eye search is completed in just a second or two, it will be more tiring
for a user with constant head movement to operate the System.

Absence of medication side effects that affect Eyegaze operation:

Many commonly prescribed medications have potential side effects that can
make it difficult to operate Eyegaze. Anticonvulsants (seizure drugs) can
cause: nystagmus, blurred vision, diplopia, dizziness, drowsiness, headache
and confusion. Some antidepressants can cause blurred vision and mydriasis
(abnormally dilated pupil.) And Baclofen, a drug commonly used to decrease
9

muscle spasms, can cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache, disorientation,

blurred vision and mydriasis. Mydriasis can be severe enough to block
eyetracking. If the retinal reflection is extremely bright, and the corneal
reflection is sitting on top of a big, bright pupil, the corneal reflection may be
indistinguishable and therefore unreadable by the computer.

3.4 Mental abilities that improve the probability for successful

Eyegaze use:
Cognition:
Cognitive level may be difficult to assess in someone who is locked in,
especially if a rudimentary communication system has not been established. In
general, a user with average intelligence will best maximize the capabilities of
an Eyegaze System.
Ability to read:
At present, the Eyegaze System is configured for users who are literate. The
System is text-based. A young child with average intelligence may not be
reading yet, but probably has the capability to learn to read at an average age.
He may be able to recognize words, and may be moving his eyes in a left to
right pattern in preparation for reading. As an interim solution many teachers
and parents stick pictures directly onto the screen. When the child looks at the
picture he activates the Eyegaze key that is located directly underneath it.
Memory:

10

Memory deficits are a particular concern in considering the Eyegaze System

for someone with a brain injury. A user who can't remember from one day to
the next how to operate the system may find it too difficult to use effectively.

11

CHAPTER 4
HOW DOES THE EYEGAZE SYSTEM WORK
For using the Eyegaze Systems the users sits in front of the systems screen
and for tracking the eye movement of the user the systems follows the below
mentioned steps. As the system starts tracking the movement of the eyes, all
the features of the system can be used depending on the requirements. As a
user sits in front of the Eyegaze monitor, a specialized video camera mounted
below the monitor observes one of the user's eyes. Sophisticated imageprocessing software in the Eyegaze System's computer continually analyzes
the video image of the eye and determines where the user is looking on the
screen. Nothing is attached to the user's head or body.

Figure: Eyegaze System Application

12

1. As a user sits in front of the Eyegaze monitor, a specialized video

camera mounted below the monitor observes one of the user's eyes.
2. Sophisticated image processing software in the Eyegaze System's
computer continually analyzes the video image of the eye and
determines where the user is looking on the screen. Nothing actually is
attached to the user's head or body.
3. The Eyegaze System uses the pupil-center/corneal-reflection method to
determine where the user is looking on the screen. An infrared-sensitive
video camera, mounted beneath the System's monitor, takes 60 pictures
per second of the user's eye.
4. A low power, infrared light emitting diode (LED), mounted in the
center of the camera's lens illuminates the eye. The LED reflects a small
bit of light off the surface of the eye's cornea. The light also shines
through the pupil and reflects off of the retina, the back surface of the
eye, and causes the pupil to appear white. The bright-pupil effect
enhances the camera's image of the pupil and makes it easier for the
image processing functions to locate the center of the pupil.
5. The computer calculates the person's gaze point, i.e., the coordinates of
where he is looking on the screen, based on the relative positions of the
pupil center and corneal reflection within the video image of the eye.
6. Typically the Eyegaze System predicts the gaze point with an average
accuracy of a quarter inch or better.
7. Prior to operating the eye tracking applications, the Eyegaze System
must learn several physiological properties of a user's eye in order to be
able to project his gazepoint accurately. The system learns these
properties by performing a calibration procedure.
8. The user calibrates the system by fixing his gaze on a small yellow
circle displayed on the screen, and following it as it moves around the
screen. The calibration procedure usually takes about 15 seconds, and
13

the user does not need to recalibrate if he moves away from the
Eyegaze System and returns later.
9. A user operates the Eyegaze System by looking at rectangular keys that
are displayed on the control screen. To "press" an Eyegaze key, the user
looks at the key for a specified period of time.
10.The gaze duration required to visually activate a key, typically a
fraction of a second, is adjustable. An array of menu keys and exit keys
allow the user to navigate around the Eyegaze programs independently.
In detail the procedure can be described as follows: The Eyegaze System uses
the pupil-center/corneal-reflection method to determine where the user is
looking on the screen. An infrared-sensitive video camera, mounted beneath
the System's monitor, takes 60 pictures per second of the user's eye. A low
power, infrared light emitting diode (LED), mounted in the center of the
camera's lens illuminates the eye. The LED reflects a small bit of light off the
surface of the eye's cornea. The light also shines through the pupil and reflects
off of the retina, the back surface of the eye, and causes the pupil to appear
white. The bright-pupil effect enhances the camera's image of the pupil and
makes it easier for the image processing functions to locate the center of the
pupil
The computer calculates the person's gazepoint, i.e., the coordinates of where
he is looking on the screen, based on the relative positions of the pupil center
and corneal reflection within the video image of the eye. Typically the
Eyegaze System predicts the gazepoint with an average accuracy of a quarter
inch or better.
Prior to operating the eyetracking applications, the Eyegaze System must
learn several physiological properties of a user's eye in order to be able to
project his gazepoint accurately. The system learns these properties by
14

performing a calibration procedure. The user calibrates the system by fixing

his gaze on a small yellow circle displayed on the screen, and following it as it
moves around the screen. The calibration procedure usually takes about 15
seconds, and the user does not need to recalibrate if he moves away from the
Eyegaze System and returns later.

CHAPTER 5
HOW TO RUN THE EYEGAZE SYSTEM
15

A user operates the Eyegaze System by looking at rectangular keys that are displayed on
the control screen. To "press" an Eyegaze key, the user looks at the key for a specified
period of time. The gaze duration required to visually activate a key, typically a fraction of
a second, is adjustable. An array of menu keys and exit keys allow the user to navigate
around the Eyegaze programs independently.

The Edge Analysis System uses the Pupil-Center/Corneal-Reflection

method to determine the eye's gaze direction.
A video camera located below the computer screen remotely and
unobtrusively observes the subject's eye.
No attachments to the head are required.
A small, low power, infrared light emitting diode (LED) located at the
center of the camera lens illuminates the eye. The LED generates the
corneal reflection and causes the bright pupil effect, which enhances the
camera's image of the pupil.

CHAPTER 6
USES OF EYEGAZE
16

Every year more than 100 000 people are diagnosed with motor neurone
diseases. Typically, even when all other ways of communicating are either
severely damaged or completely lost, the eyes still function. Communication
by Gaze Interaction (COGAIN) is a Network of Excellence designed
specifically to help people with these disabilities to communicate more
effectively with eye gaze. At the COGAIN stand you can see how this
technology is used by a person who relies on it.
Current eye tracking equipment allows users to generate text on a computer by
using eye gaze. Users are able to select letters and numbers by looking at a
keyboard on a screen with their eyes, and can construct words and sentences
that can be spoken aloud by the system. Using these systems both empowers
and enables people with disabilities as they can now communicate without the
need for an assistant or helper, giving the users greater freedom in their lives.
Eye tracking systems that allow text entry by eye gaze have been in existence
for about two decades, but the technology is still only available to a small
portion of the potential user population. Obstacles for more wide-spread use
currently include: the high cost of eye tracking equipment, the limitation that
gaze communication applications may only work with a particular dedicated
eye tracking device, and finally that eye tracking
devices are often hard to use and require experts to operate them.

6.1 The Basic Eyegaze Can:

ADJUST TO A NEW USER in about 15 seconds. (Calibration)
TYPE with one of four keyboards, then print or speak. (Typewriter)
TURN pages on the computer screen by looking at "up" or "down". (Read
Text)
17

PLAY games, two "Paddle" games, plus Solitaire and Slot Machine. (Games)
TEACH new users with simplified screens. (Teach Screens)

6.2 With Options The Eyegaze Can:

BE AT TWO SITES!! Portable computer has a handle to hand-carry between
two sites. Two sets of other components and cables for access to Eyegaze
System at school, work or home. Dimensions 9"x5'txl7'1, weight
approximately 16 lbs. (Transportable Computer)
BE A KEYBOARD to a second computer to run any keyboard-controlled
software, by means of the T-TAM connector. (Second Computer Mode)
SPEAK 100 "canned phrases" through a speech synthesizer, with a single
glance of the eye. Phrases can be changed by caregiver or user. (Phrases)
CONTROL appliances anywhere in the home or office from one Eyegaze
screen. No special wiring. (Lights and Appliances)
DIAL and answer a speaker phone from one screen. "Phone Book" stores 16
frequently used numbers. (Telephone)

CHAPTER 7
MENUS OF EYEGAZE SYSTEM

18

The Main Menu:

The Main Menu appears on the screen as soon as the user completes a 15second calibration procedure. The Main Menu presents a list of available
Eyegaze programs. The user calls up a desired program by looking at the
Eyegaze key next to his program choice.

Figure: Main Menu

Main Menu Options:

7.1 The Phrase Program:
The Phrases program, along with the speech synthesizer, provides quick communications
for non-verbal users. Looking at a key causes a preprogrammed message to be spoken. The

19

Phrases program stores up to 126 messages, which can be composed and easily changed to
suit the user.

Figure: Phrases Screen

7.2 Typewriter Program:
Simple word processing can be done using the Typewriter Program. The user types by
looking at keys on visual keyboards. Four keyboard configurations, simple to complex, are
available. Typed text appears on the screen above the keyboard display. The user may
"speak" or print what he has typed. He may also store typed text in a file to be retrieved at a
later time. The retrieved text may be verbalized, edited or printed.

20

Figure: Alpha Keyboard

7.3 The Telephone Program:
The telephone program allows the user to place and receive calls. Frequently used numbers
are stored in a telephone "book". Non-verbal users may access the speech synthesizer to
talk on the phone.

Figure: Telephone Control Screen

21

7.4 Run Second PC:

The Run Second PC program permits the Eyegaze Communication System to act as a
peripheral keyboard and Mouse interface to a Windows computer. The user can run any
off-the-shelf software he chooses on the second computer. He can access the Internet, and
send e-mail by looking at keyboard and mouse control screens on the Eyegaze monitor. The
programs being run are displayed on the second computer's monitor. Typed text appears
simultaneously on the Eyegaze and second pc's screens.

Figure: Frequency Keyboard

For children, two new Eyegaze programs have been added to the Eyegaze System. Both
run with the Second PC option. Eye Switch is a big, basic on-screen switch to run "cause
& effect" software programs on a Second PC. Simple Mouse is an easy mouse control
program to provide simplified access to educational software on a Second PC.
22

Figure: Mouse control screen

7.5 The Lights & appliances Program:
The Lights & appliances Program which includes computer-controlled switching
equipment, provides Eyegaze control of lights and appliances anywhere in the home or
office. No special house wiring is necessary. The user turns appliances on and off by
looking at a bank of switches displayed on the screen.

23

Figure: Lights and Appliances

7.6 Paddle games & Score Four:

These are the visually controlled Games.

7.7 Read Text Program:

The Read Text Program allows the user to select text for display and to "turn pages" with
his eyes. Any ASCII format text can be loaded for the user to access. Books on floppy disk
are available from Services for the Blind.

7.8 Television:
Television programs can be displayed directly on the desktop Eyegaze System screen. Onscreen volume and channel controls provide independent operation. (Not available on the
Portable Eyegaze System.)

24

7.9 A web browsing system using Eyegaze input:

Recently, the eye-gaze input system was reported as a novel human-machine
interface. The operation of this system only requires user eye movement. Using
this system, many communication aid systems have been developed for people
with severe physical handicaps, such as ALS patients. We have reported a new
Eyegaze input system already. It utilizes a personnel computer and a home
video camera to detect eye-gaze under natural light. In this paper, we propose a
new web browsing system for our conventional eye-gaze input system.
Eye-Gaze input system has to detect gaze direction of users. Our Eye-Gaze
input system
Runs image analysis software for Eye-Gaze detection.
On horizontal Eye-Gaze detection, the detecting method uses the difference in
reflectance between the Iris and the sclera; this is estimated by the difference in
reflectance between the Iris and the sclera; this is estimated by the difference of
integral value of the brightness on area A and B, shown in fig. On vertical EyeGaze detection, we draw attention to the vertical movement of Iris. The light
intensity distribution from eye image changes with Iris movement. The light
intensity distribution from eye image changes with Iris movement.
In this, we propose the web browsing system using above methods. The
indicators for web browsing are displayed on monitor of personnel computer.
By switching 3 function groups, this system offers many
Function groups, this system offers many functions such as mouse cursor
control, scrolling of screen , decision of selected object , refreshing web
page and text input by using screen keyboard. User can switch function
groups by gazing menu indicator.
This system analyzes the location of selectable object on web page, such as
hyperlink, radio button, edit box, etc.
25

This system stores the locations of these objects, in other words, the mouse
cursor skips to the object of candidate input. Therefore it enables web browsing
at a faster pace.
The evaluation experiments for the proposed system were conducted with five
objects. Subjects were browsing through two web sites, the results show that
the subjects can operate this system as they planned, and correct easily errors in
operation.

26

CHAPTER 8
TECHNOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES
The most widely used current designs are video-based eye trackers. A camera
focuses on one or both eyes and records their movement as the viewer looks at
some kind of stimulus. Most modern eye-trackers use contrast to locate the
center of the pupil and use infrared and near-infrared non-collimated light to
create a corneal reflection (CR). The vector between these two features can be
used to compute gaze intersection with a surface after a simple calibration for
an individual.
Two general types of eye tracking techniques are used: Bright Pupil and Dark
Pupil. Their difference is based on the location of the illumination source with
respect to the optics. If the illumination is coaxial with the optical path, then
the eye acts as a retro reflector as the light reflects off the retina creating a
bright pupil effect similar to red eye. If the illumination source is offset from
the optical path, then the pupil appears dark because the retro reflection from
the retina is directed away from the camera.
Bright Pupil tracking creates greater iris/pupil contrast allowing for more
robust eye tracking with all iris pigmentation and greatly reduces interference
caused by eyelashes and other obscuring features. It also allows for tracking in
lighting conditions ranging from total darkness to very bright. But bright pupil
techniques are not effective for tracking outdoors as extraneous IR sources
interfere with monitoring.
Eye tracking setups vary greatly; some are head-mounted, some require the
head to be stable (for example, with a chin rest), and some function remotely
and automatically track the head during motion. Most use a sampling rate of at
least 30 Hz. Although 50/60 Hz is most common, today many video-based eye
trackers run at 240, 350 or even 1000/1250 Hz, which is needed in order to
capture the detail of the very rapid eye movement during reading, or during
studies of neurology.
Eye movement is typically divided into fixations and saccades, when the eye
gaze pauses in a certain position, and when it moves to another position,
respectively. The resulting series of fixations and saccades is called a scan
path. Most information from the eye is made available during a fixation, but
27

not during a saccade. The central one or two degrees of the visual angle (the
fovea) provide the bulk of visual information; the input from larger
eccentricities (the periphery) is less informative. Hence, the locations of
fixations along a scan path show what information loci on the stimulus were
processed during an eye tracking session. On average, fixations last for around
200 ms during the reading of linguistic text, and 350 ms during the viewing of
a scene. Preparing a saccade towards a new goal takes around 200 ms.

28

CHAPTER 9
APPLICATIONS
Every year more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with motor neurone
diseases. Typically, even when all other ways of communicating are either
severely damaged or completely lost, the eyes still function. Communication
by Gaze Interaction (COGAIN) is a Network of Excellence designed
specifically to help people with these disabilities to communicate more
effectively with eye gaze. At the COGAIN stand you can see how this
technology is used by a person who relies on it.
Current eye tracking equipment allows users to generate text on a computer by
using eye gaze. Users are able to select letters and numbers by looking at a
keyboard on a screen with their eyes, and can construct words and sentences
that can be spoken aloud by the system. Using these systems both empowers
and enables people with disabilities as they can now communicate without the
need for an assistant or helper, giving the users greater freedom in their lives.
Eye tracking systems that allow text entry by eye gaze have been in existence
for about two decades, but the technology is still only available to a small
portion of the potential user population. Obstacles for more wide-spread use
currently include: the high cost of eye tracking equipment, the limitation that
gaze communication applications may only work with a particular dedicated
eye tracking device, and finally that eye tracking devices are often hard to use
and require experts to operate them.
A wide variety of disciplines use eye tracking techniques, including cognitive
science, psychology (notably psycholinguistics, the visual world paradigm),
human-computer interaction (HCI), marketing research and medical research
(neurological diagnosis). Specific applications include the tracking eye
movement in language reading, music reading, human activity recognition, the
perception of advertising, and the playing of sport. Uses include:

Cognitive Studies
Medical Research
Laser refractive surgery
Human Factors
29

Computer Usability
Translation Process Research
Vehicle Simulators
In-vehicle Research
Training Simulators
Virtual Reality
Adult Research
Infant Research
Adolescent Research
Geriatric Research
Primate Research
Sports Training
fMRI / MEG / EEG
Commercial eye tracking (web usability, advertising, marketing,
automotive, etc)
Finding good clues
Communication systems for disabled
Improved image and video communications
Computer Science: Activity Recognition

Commercial applications
In recent years, the increased sophistication and accessibility of eye tracking
technologies have generated a great deal of interest in the commercial sector.
Applications include web usability, advertising, sponsorship, package design
and automotive engineering. In general, commercial eye tracking studies
function by presenting a target stimulus to a sample of consumers while an
eye tracker is used to record the activity of the eye. Examples of target stimuli
may include websites, television programs, sporting events, films,
commercials, magazines, newspapers, packages, shelf Displays, consumer
systems (ATMs, checkout systems, kiosks), and software. The resulting data
can be statistically analyzed and graphically rendered to provide evidence of
specific visual patterns. By examining fixations, saccades, pupil dilation,
blinks and a variety of other behaviors researchers can determine a great deal
about the effectiveness of a given medium or product. While some companies
complete this type of research internally, there are many private companies
that offer eye tracking services and analysis.
The most prominent field of commercial eye tracking research is web
usability. While traditional usability techniques are often quite powerful in
30

providing information on clicking and scrolling patterns, eye tracking offers

the ability to analyze user interaction between the clicks. This provides
valuable insight into which features are the most eye-catching, which features
cause confusion and which ones are ignored altogether. Specifically, eye
tracking can be used to assess search efficiency, branding, online
advertisements, navigation usability, overall design and many other site
components. Analyses may target a prototype or competitor site in addition to
the main client site.
Eye tracking is commonly used in a variety of different advertising media.
Commercials, print ads, online ads and sponsored programs are all conducive
to analysis with current eye tracking technology. Analyses focus on visibility
of a target product or logo in the context of a magazine, newspaper, website,
or televised event. This allows researchers to assess in great detail how often a
sample of consumers fixates on the target logo, product or ad in this way, an
advertiser can quantify the success of a given campaign in terms of actual
visual attention.
Eye tracking provides package designers with the opportunity to examine the
visual behavior of a consumer while interacting with a target package. This
may be used to analyze distinctiveness, attractiveness and the tendency of the
package to be chosen for purchase. Eye tracking is often utilized while the
target product is in the prototype stage. Prototypes are tested against each
other and competitors to examine which specific elements are associated with
high visibility and appeal.
One of the most promising applications of eye tracking research is in the field
of automotive design. Research is currently underway to integrate eye
tracking cameras into automobiles. The goal of this endeavor is to provide the
vehicle with the capacity to assess in real-time the visual behavior of the
driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
estimates that drowsiness is the primary causal factor in 100,000 policereported accidents per year. Another NHTSA study suggests that 80% of
collisions occur within three seconds of a distraction. By equipping
automobiles with the ability to monitor drowsiness, inattention, and cognitive
engagement driving safety could be dramatically enhanced. Lexus claims to
have equipped its LS 460 with the first driver monitor system in 2006,
providing a warning if the driver takes his or her eye off the road.

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Since 2005, eye tracking is used in communication systems for disabled

persons: allowing the user to speak, send e-mail, browse the Internet and
perform other such activities, using only their eyes. Eye control works even
when the user has involuntary movement as a result of Cerebral palsy or other
disabilities, and for those who have glasses or other physical interference
which would limit the effectiveness of older eye control systems.
Eye tracking has also seen minute use in autofocus still camera equipment,
where users can focus on a subject simply by looking at it through the
viewfinder.

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CHAPTER 10
FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITED EYE CONTROL
Scanning Keyboard is the new row/column keyboard with an on-screen eye
"switch" for people with limited eye movement. The switch can be placed on
either side, above, or below the keyboard to accommodate users with only
horizontal movement, or only vertical movement. The user may "speak" what
he has typed.

10.1. Environment required for an Eyegaze system

Because eyetracking is done using infrared light.Eyegaze system must take
care of light sources in the room in order to ensure the best accuracy. The
Eyegaze System must be operated in an environment where there is limited of
ambient infrared light. Common sources of infrared light are sunlight and
incandescent light bulbs. The System makes its predictions based on the
assumption that the only source of infrared light shining on the user's eye is
coming from the center of the camera. Therefore, stray sources of infrared
may degrade the accuracy or prevent Eyegaze operation altogether. The
System works best away from windows, and in a room lit with fluorescent or
mercury-vapor lights, which are low in infrared.

10.2. New portable Eyegaze System

The Portable Eyegaze System can be mounted on a wheelchair and run from a
12-volt battery or wall outlet. It weighs only 6 lbs (2.7 kg) and its dimensions
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are 2.5"x8"x9" (6.5cm x20cm x23cm). The Portable Eyegaze System comes
with a flat screen monitor and a table mounted for its monitor. The monitor
can be lifted off the table mount and slipped into a wheelchair mount.

Figure: Portable Eyegaze System Mounted on Wheelchair

34

Figure: Screen of Eyegaze System

35

10.3 THE EYEGAZE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM:

COMPONENTS & PRICES
Desktop Eyegaze System

$14,900 US$

Software Programs
Main

Menu

Keyboard
Games
Read

Text

Teach
Settings Program
Hardware
Desktop computer with Windows 2000, Video frame grabber,
sound,
CD

and

15"

floppy

LCD

Flat

drives

Panel

Adjustable

monitor

tray

with

High-speed

infrared

sensitive

Monitor

camera
camera

bracket

and

lens

Surge protector, cables and connectors

Upgrades and Options
Portable

computer

(in

place

of

desktop

computer)

$1000

Computer access (hardware and software to run a PC)

$500

Lights

$350

&

Appliances

Telephone

$350

Television

$350

Options for use outside the U.S. are slightly different.

All money is in U.S. Dollars.
The above prices do not include shipping costs or travel-related installation expenses.
36

The prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Virginia residents add 4.5% sales tax.

At each camera image sample, the Edge Analysis System generates:

an eye-found flag indicating whether or not the eye is visible to the

camera and thus whether or not a valid gazepoint is calculated,
x-y coordinates of the subject's gazepoint on the computer screen,
pupil diameter,
3-dimensional location of the eyeball center within the camera field-ofview, an indicator of head location and movement, and
fixation and saccade analysis.

The Edge Analysis System is robust and extremely easy to calibrate. RMS
tracking errors are typically 0.25 inch (0.63 cm) or less and the advanced
image processing algorithms in the System explicitly accommodate several
common sources of gazepoint tracking error:

Head Range Variation

Pupil Diameter Variation
Corneal Reflection Straddling Pupil Edge

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Figure: Eyegaze System Communication System

38

CHAPTER 11
CONCLUSION
Today, the human eye-gaze can be recorded by relatively unremarkable
techniques. This thesis argues that it is possible to use the eye-gaze of a
computer user in the interface to aid the control of the application. Care must
be taken, though, that eye-gaze tracking data is used in a sensible way, since
the nature of human eye-movements is a combination of several voluntary and
involuntary cognitive processes.
The main reason for eye-gaze based user interfaces being attractive is that the
direction of the eye-gaze can express the interests of the user-it is a potential
porthole into the current cognitive processes-and communication through the
direction of the eyes is faster than any other mode of human communication.
It is argued that eye-gaze tracking data is best used in multimodal interfaces
where the user interacts with the data instead of the interface, in so-called noncommand user interfaces.

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CHAPTER 12
REFERENCES

http://www.eyegaze.com/content/assistive-technology
http://www.eyegaze.com/content/eyetracking-research-tools
http://www.gschlosser.de/eyegaze_english.htm
http://www.sensorysoftware.com/132.html
http://www.diku.dk/hjemmesider/ansatte/panic/eyegaze/node19.html
http://www.eyetechds.com/

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