SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) from Germany today reveals new technology for user experience studies and gaze interaction applications in virtual environments. SMI developed the first 3D glasses with full eye tracking capability in a partner project with Volfoni, leading provider of 3D solutions.
Thanks to Volfoni's ActiveEye[TM]technology, the new smart glasses combine mobile eye tracking with realistic 3D user experience. This gives completely new insights into a user's interaction, for example while navigating through virtual urban spaces or while looking at 3D product designs. With its full head and motion tracking support, the technology is a milestone for real-time gaze interaction with virtual avatars or 3D gaming applications.
The SMI Eye Tracking Glasses for virtual environment applications are presented this week at the SD&A trade show, the most important gathering of the stereoscopic imaging industry, held in San Francisco. Watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1OQJzDx_S4
SMI Eye Tracking Glasses are worn like a normal pair of glasses. Eye tracking is accomplished by two small cameras on the rim of the glasses while a scene camera records the field of view of the user. For real 3D experience of the wearer and full immersion into the virtual environment, active stereo glasses using Volfoni's ActiveEye[TM] technology are integrated with the eye tracking hardware. The eye tracker also detects the eye distance of the wearer by measuring the eyes' vergence, which allows to optimize the 3D experience for individual physiognomies.
The leader in optical tracking, Advanced Realtime Tracking GmbH (A.R.T.) provides the optical targets placed on the glasses in order to measure the position and orientation of the wearer′s head within a defined space. The result: 6D gaze vectors on objects are calculated automatically and virtual content can be presented in real-time dependent on the gaze interaction of the user with the environment. The eye tracking system supports leading head and motion tracking technologies such as A.R.T., Vicon, WorldViz and Kinect via its VRPN interface.