Skip to main content

Tobii eye-tracking development kit makes for an eye-pleasing demonstration

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Intel ended this year’s keynote by talking about perceptual computing, a term for input that relies on motion and voice instead of a keyboard and mouse. It is not alone in its research, however. Tobii, a small company hailing from Sweden, is making strides with its eye-tracking system.

The idea is simple. Humans naturally move their eyes while interacting with a device, so why not harness that movement? Tobii does just that by using a pair of infrared sensors and an embedded processor to track a user’s eyes with surprising precision. Tobii has two units: the Tobii IS20 and the Tobii IS 30. The only difference between the two is the maximum display size in which they are compatible.

Tobii let its demos do the talking. After an extremely short calibration process we were able to scroll through text, zap asteroids, and select images using nothing but eye movement. The effect was at first disorienting. At first, we found our hands kept reaching for the mouse. After several minutes, however, we began to adapt and noticed our input becoming more accurate.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

We were even more impressed by the unofficial work Tobii has performed with StarCraft II. Most of the game’s interface was still controlled by a keyboard and mouse, but several important functions, such as navigating the mini-map and moving units, could be performed by looking at a portion of the display and hitting a pre-defined hotkey. Representatives of the company said they’ve also experimented with other games. Imagine, for example, leaning out of a window in-game by leaning in real life.

Tobii isn’t perfect just yet. There were a few issues. Precision control was problematic at times, and the calibration window seemed a bit small. Moving more than a foot in any direction after calibration often threw off the device and made control either non-functional or far less accurate.

Issues like this aren’t deal breakers because it’s only a development kit. Anyone who wants to buy a Tobii will have to spend at least $995 for the standard development package that includes both the hardware and the SDK. Pricing on the consumer version, which will be available for preorder this spring and ship in the fall, is not yet announced.

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
Best color laser printers for 2024: tested and reviewed
A Brother printer on a counter in front of a brick wall.

The best color laser printers can be a great investment, saving you quite a bit of time and money. For shoppers worried about the long-term ink costs, you'll find color laser printers surprisingly affordable. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a very long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer quick performance and reliability to help keep your home office or small business productive.

If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why every model on this list is an all-in-one from the best printer brands.

Read more
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more