Hasta La Gadget!

Tobii’s eye-tracking technology continues to make its way to mainstream devices. We’ve seen it work with laptops, arcade machines and Windows 8 tablets, and now Tobii has partnered with SteelSeries to release the EyeX, an eye-tracking accessory meant to work with PC games.

In case you’re not familiar with Tobii’s technology, its eye tracker uses microprojectors to beam near-infrared light to the users’ eyes. Then the trackers’ sensors analyze the reflections of that light along with the user’s facial features to accurately detect where he’s looking.

In the demo below, Tobii shows three ways that eye-tracking can be used to augment StarCraft II. First is the ability to move the view to a particular location by looking at an enlarged view of the mini-map (i.e. a map). Second is the ability to center the view to the point where the user is looking, and finally the ability to order units where to move, attack and more just by looking at the target. Skip to around 2:45 in the video for the demo:

The EyeX can also be used in e-sports broadcasts and to help developers improve their game by showing where a player is looking as he’s playing. Skip to around 12:30 in the video below to see that function in action:

As you can see the hardware seems quite capable, but it’s not going to succeed if developers don’t integrate it – and integrate it well– into their games.

Tobii & SteelSeries will release EyeX developer kits this year for $195 (USD), but for a limited time they can be bought for a steep discount: $95 for US customers and €75 for non-US customers. Just enter the promo code ‘CES2014′ on Tobii’s online shop when prompted. As with its tablet incarnation, I can see the EyeX being a boon not just for creating better or new ways to play games, but to help the disabled play conventional games as well. I hope developers and hardware hackers will explore that possibility too.

[via Tobii via Destructoid]

[CES 2014] Gamers are probably well-aware of the brand SteelSeries who are known as a manufacturer of gaming accessories and peripherals, such as headphones, gaming mice, keyboards, and have even sponsored gaming teams, such as DotA 2’s Na’Vi. Now SteelSeries will be teaming up with Tobii, which for those unfamiliar is a company that specializes in eye tracking technology. With SteelSeries and Tobii involved, the end result is an eye-tracking gaming peripheral which they are calling the world’s first mass-market consumer eye-tracking device for gamers. (more…)

Tobii And SteelSeries Team Up For Eye-Tracking Gaming Accessory original content from Ubergizmo.

Eye-tracking technology is not new. In fact we’ve seen examples of it used in smartphones, such as the SmartStay feature in the Galaxy S3. We have also heard rumors that Amazon’s own smartphone could feature eye-tracking as well. At the forefront of eye-tracking technology is the company Tobii, who has in the past released eye-tracking products, and they have recently announced that they will be taking the wraps off their EyeX Engine, which is basically a set of tools that they will be giving to developers as a means for them to add eye-tracking to their apps and devices in the future.

It remains to be seen as to what developers will be able to use these features for, but the possibilities are endless. One of the examples highlighted by Tobii in the video above, is how eye-tracking can be used as a means to navigate a computer, by using one’s eyes as a pointing tool. It can also be used to dismiss notifications once you have read it, which can be incredibly useful and will not be disruptive as compared to having to click the notification away or wait for it to disappear. It can also be used for gaming, especially in FPS games where you head/eye movements will correspond to your movement in the game itself. It sounds pretty awesome and for developers looking to get their hands on the EyeX kit, it will be available for pre-order for $195 and is expected to start shipping in March 2014.

Tobii Announces EyeX Eye-Tracking Kit For Developers original content from Ubergizmo.

The Tobii EyeMobile peripheral has been launched today, its basically a peripheral that helps individuals with physical and communication impairments to fully control most Windows 8 tablets through natural, simple and relaxed movement of their eyes. Users will be able to enjoy full control of the tablet, regardless of where they might be or what they might be doing. The peripheral can be easily mounted on the dashboard for in-car use, on a wheelchair or at a workstation. Tablets such as the Microsoft Surface and Dell Latitude 10 are compatible with EyeMobile.

Its certainly not cheap. The sensor and the bracket together cost $4,250, so its not exactly a peripheral an average user would buy just because they like the thought of controlling a Windows 8 tablet through their eyes. The company has kept the focus on users with communication and physical impairments, which may include arthritis, muscular dystrophy, Rett syndrome, ALS or spinal cord injuries. EyeMobile makes them able to use something that they otherwise would not have been able to use. The bracket is offered in either black or silver color, the sensor included in it can be removed. It can be plugged into another Windows 8 laptop or desktop. EyeMobile is available for purchase now through Tobii’s website.

Tobii EyeMobile Lets Users Control Windows 8 Tablets With Their Eyes original content from Ubergizmo.

The latest wave of Windows 8 ultrabooks blend keyboards, mice, and touchscreen gestures into a (theoretically) seamless experience. But even with touch as an input option, accessibility remains an issue for people with limited mobility, or those who suffer from …