IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - October 2015 - 68

the key issues in the usability of
such gaze-based driver-assistance
systems include inherent problems
in eye detection due to variable
illumination, occlusion of the eye
region due to shadows or
eyeglasses, false alarms, and
real-time operability.
industry and academia in developing advanced driver monitoring and assistance systems [26]. Leading car manufactures
like Toyota and Nissan have long been involved in developing
interactive driver-support systems based on actively tracking
driver gaze or blinking patterns to evaluate driver vigilance
and drowsiness levels [2]. The setups for cars use machinevision algorithms (e.g., percentage of eyelid closure time)
active appearance models, or conventional PCCR techniques
[17], comprising cameras and infrared light sources mounted
on the car's dashboard [Figure 2(a)].

mAjor limitAtions
The key issues in the usability of such gaze-based driver-assistance systems include inherent problems in eye detection due
to variable illumination, occlusion of the eye region due to
shadows or eyeglasses, false alarms, and real-time operability.

smArtphone/hAndheld plAtForms
using gAze As An input mechAnism
Despite smartphone releases from Samsung and Apple rumored
to have functions for eye gaze, these inventions remain within
the confines of patents; they have not yet been commercially
realized. The proposed utilities of using eye gaze as an input

2.2 m

mechanism as mentioned in the patents (e.g., Samsung's Method and Apparatus for User Interface Using Gaze Interaction,
US2014/0232638A1 and Apple's Electronic Devices With
Gaze Detection Capabilities, US2013/0135198A1) include
user gaze commands for unlocking the cell phone, dimming the
display screen, pausing/resuming video playback, suspending
various sensors, or reducing the number of processing cores utilized by circuitry to optimize device power consumption.

mAjor limitAtions
Handheld devices like smartphones and tablets are usually
dynamic platforms where the conditions for stable eye
tracking are highly challenged due to variable relative positions of the user with respect to the device, unpredictable
hand jitter and movements, unstable illumination, and the
"Midas-touch" effect [2], [17].

domotic controls And iptv
Eye-gaze-based domotic controls are a new class of human-
environment interaction methodologies [18]. These have been
inspired by the increasing requirements of self-sufficiency and
autonomy for designing smart homes that ensure improved
quality of living-especially for the elderly and people with
disabilities [20]. Another recently commercialized gazeoriented paradigm includes gaze-controlled IPTV-brought
recently to market by Haier in conjunction with Tobii-which
uses t he P CCR t e ch n ique for ga z e lo ca l i zat ion
[Figure 3(a)]. Furthermore, a patent by Park et al. (Gaze Tracking System and Method for Controlling Internet Protocol TV
at a Distance, US20120133754A1) enumerates the possible
utilities of such an IPTV, e.g., moderating hue, brightness, and
TV display depending on user gaze and understanding user
interest [19].

mAjor limitAtions
The typical limitations of such gaze-based assisted-living systems comprise the inability of tracking systems to distinguish

NIR Illuminators

Gaze-Tracking Device

(a)

(b)

FIGURE 3. (a) the haier iptv setup with tobii user tracker in front. (photo used with permission from [31].) (b) An attentive tv that
senses engagement [20].
68 IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine

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october 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - October 2015
