Developer Tobii is shipping EyeX Controllers to game developers.
Tobii Technology is shipping the Tobii EyeX Controller to developers who have pre-ordered the dev kit. The first batch will aid developers who want to integrate eye tracking into mainstream Windows applications and PC games. To celebrate the EyeX launch, Tobii is offering the dev kit for $95 through the end of May (regular price is $139).
“With the Tobii EyeX dev kit, developers can unleash their creativity and start exploring eye tracking to harness completely new user experiences — experiences that are more natural, more intuitive and more fun,” said Oscar Werner, president of OEM Solutions. “We’re really excited to be delivering the Tobii EyeX dev kit to developers all over the world and to see how developers will use the dev kit to customize programs for the specific needs of their user groups and audiences.”
Tobii has an agreement with SteelSeries that will launch the world’s first gaming eye tracker to consumers later this year. Several game studios are now in the process of creating eye tracking-enabled games. Tobii has also started working with independent developers to deliver third-party content for coming consumer devices and applications that are eye tracking-enabled. Among the pioneers are Son of Nor by stillalive studios and EyeAsteroids by Foveal Wizardry, as well as Facebook and Photoshop extensions by 4tiitoo.
“Tobii EyeX offers massive opportunities for developers in many different segments to truly innovate and outpace their competitors. We see very large opportunities in ergonomics, health care, automotive, security, CAD/CAM and industry automation, to name just a few,” says Werner. “Imagine if, in addition to the mouse, you had another way to point to the screen. How would you evolve your user interface?”
The Tobii EyeX Controller is paired with the Tobii EyeX Engine, a powerful middleware that provides a set of predefined functions, such as calibration, and user interactions, which combine eye tracking with other modalities such as keyboard and touchpad. This is a unique combination that makes it easy for developers to get started, allowing them to focus on the fun part of enhancing their app.
“With the EyeX dev kit, Tobii has turned what is generally seen as complex into something simple. This allows any developer to rapidly add eye-tracking capabilities to their application, while also ensuring that users get a consistent and intuitive user experience. We look forward to seeing what will come out of our growing community of developers,” said Werner.
Founded in 2001, Tobii Technology is a global leader in eye tracking and is pioneering eye tracking in personal computing, has transformed research in many fields and enabled communication for thousands of people with special needs. The company develops and delivers core eye-tracking technology as well as comprehensive solutions for interaction and analytical applications. Tobii is headquartered in Sweden and operates through three divisions: Tobii OEM Solutions, Tobii Assistive Technology and Tobii Analysis Solutions with offices in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan, and Norway and a global network of resellers.
