Tobii's EyeChip and IS4 Promise Eye Tracking Boom

Eye tracking technology pioneer Tobii has released two new products, the Tobii IS4 eye tracking platform and Tobii EyeChip, geared towards integrating eye tracking features into a wide range of consumer devices.

Tobii says the new units will ship from December, and enable premium grade eye tracking for a wide variety of consumer devices, among them desktop and laptop computers, tablets, cars and virtual-reality (VR) headsets.

The IS4, powered by the EyeChip (pictured), provides OEMs and integrators with a lightweight platform with near infrared sensors, illuminators, and the firm's EyeCore algorithms, proprietary middleware engine and software development kit (SDK). In addition to meeting consumer device requirements such as low power consumption, the IS4 can be configured for the addition of third party features like facial identification, head tracking and facial feature tracking.

The EyeChip is the world's first system-on-chip (SoC) or ASIC developed specifically for eye tracking, Tobii says, and features integrated sensor and illumination control. This integration allows it combine high performance with much-reduced CPU load and power consumption, allowing it to be added to PC peripherals, all-in-one PCs, desktop monitors, notebooks, detachable Ultrabooks, tablets, cars, VR and AR headsets. The company will also work with Starbreeze Studios to explore eye tracking solutions in the latter's StarVR head mounted display (HMD).

Swedish-based Tobii has around 600 employees and is formed of three units: Tobii Dynavox, which makes specially designed computers for use by people with special needs due to spinal cord injuries, CP, ALS or other medical conditions; Tobii Pro develops and sells equipment and services to companies and research institutions; and Tobii Tech works on developing the group's technology for new volume markets such as computer games, personal computers and vehicles.

Company President Oscar Werner says the IS4 platform, 'and especially the EyeChip', mark a 'tremendous milestone' for Tobii after several years of R&D and nearly $15m in investment.

Web site: www.tobii.com .|

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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