STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tobii Technology, the global leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction, today announced that partner NTT DOCOMO INC.
In the case of, Tobii, 12 months makes a world of difference.
ENGADGET: Hands-on with Tobii REX, a peripheral that brings eye-tracking to any Windows 8 PC (video)
Tobii hasn't yet disclosed the retail price of its REX device, but says it is targeted at tech-savvy aficionados rather than everyday computer users.
To show off its technology, Tobii built what it calls the first eye-controlled arcade game, called EyeAsteroids, a spin on the old Atari game, Asteroids.
"Within a couple of years we'll see eye-tracking in consumer products, like consumer computing and cars, " says Jenny Grant, strategic business development manager for Tobii Technology.
CNN: Watch this space: Eye-control to give technology a new look
With Tobii's gaze interaction development kit, developers can quickly get started exploring this new modality and bring a new dimension in user experience to their products.
The Tobii PCEye eye tracking system allows people with limited motor skills and certain neurological problems, to use their eyes to tell their computer what to do.
Fast forward 12 months: Intel now owns a 10 percent stake in the company, and Tobii recently started shipping its first piece of hardware, the REX.
ENGADGET: Hands-on with Tobii REX, a peripheral that brings eye-tracking to any Windows 8 PC (video)
Tobii offers gaze interaction development kits for purchase or rental.
Tobii works extensively with many application partners in the consumer electronics industry as it works to bring eye tracking and gaze interaction to personal computers, gaming systems, televisions and vehicles.
Utechzone's Spring systems and Tobii products have been used by thousands of disabled people, many suffering for cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy and have allowed them to communicate faster and easier.
CNN: Watch this space: Eye-control to give technology a new look
After playing with it, it was obvious to us the technology still needed some fine-tuning, but nonetheless Tobii promised it would have a product to sell in about a year's time.
ENGADGET: Hands-on with Tobii REX, a peripheral that brings eye-tracking to any Windows 8 PC (video)
The original grand vision of Tobii's founders was to put eye-tracking technology into every computer, but there are some that wonder if eye-tracking might be the next Bluetooth, useful but not widely used.
CNN: Watch this space: Eye-control to give technology a new look
"This is an exciting step forward as we continue to pursue our vision of a world in which eye tracking enhances our interaction with everyday devices, " said Henrik Eskilsson, CEO of Tobii Technology.
Developed in partnership with NTT DOCOMO's manufacturing partner, Fujitsu, the ibeam prototype uses the most advanced and compact eye tracker in the world, the Tobii IS20 (formerly Tobii IS-2), allowing an unsurpassed eye-tracking experience when using the device.
That laptop you see up there has a Tobii eye-tracking sensor affixed to it, and you're probably wondering why we're still dwelling on it after getting hands-on twice at CES 2012 and once more at CES 2013.
As for availability, well, it's pretty clear the hardware will have to come before the software -- a NUIA spokesperson told us she doesn't expect its kit will be commercially available until sensing devices like Tobii become integrated into Windows 8 PCs.
While wandering the halls of Mobile World Congress, we came across NUIA (Natural User Inter Action), a German company whose software is designed to make it easier for developers to code apps that make use of eye tracking sensors, such as Tobii's.
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