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Evaluation of the Tobii EyeX Eye tracking controller and Matlab toolkit for research

Evaluation of the Tobii EyeX Eye tracking controller and Matlab toolkit for research
Evaluation of the Tobii EyeX Eye tracking controller and Matlab toolkit for research

The Tobii Eyex Controller is a new low-cost binocular eye tracker marketed for integration in gaming and consumer applications. The manufacturers claim that the system was conceived for natural eye gaze interaction, does not require continuous recalibration, and allows moderate head movements. The Controller is provided with a SDK to foster the development of new eye tracking applications. We review the characteristics of the device for its possible use in scientific research. We develop and evaluate an open source Matlab Toolkit that can be employed to interface with the EyeX device for gaze recording in behavioral experiments. The Toolkit provides calibration procedures tailored to both binocular and monocular experiments, as well as procedures to evaluate other eye tracking devices. The observed performance of the EyeX (i.e. accuracy < 0.6°, precision < 0.25°, latency < 50 ms and sampling frequency ≈55 Hz), is sufficient for some classes of research application. The device can be successfully employed to measure fixation parameters, saccadic, smooth pursuit and vergence eye movements. However, the relatively low sampling rate and moderate precision limit the suitability of the EyeX for monitoring micro-saccadic eye movements or for real-time gaze-contingent stimulus control. For these applications, research grade, high-cost eye tracking technology may still be necessary. Therefore, despite its limitations with respect to high-end devices, the EyeX has the potential to further the dissemination of eye tracking technology to a broad audience, and could be a valuable asset in consumer and gaming applications as well as a subset of basic and clinical research settings.

Binocular, Eye movements, Eye tracking, Low cost, Saccade, Smooth pursuit, Vergence
1554-351X
923-946
Gibaldi, Agostino
c94c0175-41f1-4c59-9e56-7968051b1949
Vanegas, Mauricio
35ca4837-4197-479b-bd88-4dc98596d779
Bex, Peter J.
6e6bd07d-1136-4163-91d1-1144ef209570
Maiello, Guido
c122b089-1bbc-4d3e-b178-b0a1b31a5295
Gibaldi, Agostino
c94c0175-41f1-4c59-9e56-7968051b1949
Vanegas, Mauricio
35ca4837-4197-479b-bd88-4dc98596d779
Bex, Peter J.
6e6bd07d-1136-4163-91d1-1144ef209570
Maiello, Guido
c122b089-1bbc-4d3e-b178-b0a1b31a5295

Gibaldi, Agostino, Vanegas, Mauricio, Bex, Peter J. and Maiello, Guido (2017) Evaluation of the Tobii EyeX Eye tracking controller and Matlab toolkit for research. Behavior Research Methods, 49 (3), 923-946. (doi:10.3758/s13428-016-0762-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Tobii Eyex Controller is a new low-cost binocular eye tracker marketed for integration in gaming and consumer applications. The manufacturers claim that the system was conceived for natural eye gaze interaction, does not require continuous recalibration, and allows moderate head movements. The Controller is provided with a SDK to foster the development of new eye tracking applications. We review the characteristics of the device for its possible use in scientific research. We develop and evaluate an open source Matlab Toolkit that can be employed to interface with the EyeX device for gaze recording in behavioral experiments. The Toolkit provides calibration procedures tailored to both binocular and monocular experiments, as well as procedures to evaluate other eye tracking devices. The observed performance of the EyeX (i.e. accuracy < 0.6°, precision < 0.25°, latency < 50 ms and sampling frequency ≈55 Hz), is sufficient for some classes of research application. The device can be successfully employed to measure fixation parameters, saccadic, smooth pursuit and vergence eye movements. However, the relatively low sampling rate and moderate precision limit the suitability of the EyeX for monitoring micro-saccadic eye movements or for real-time gaze-contingent stimulus control. For these applications, research grade, high-cost eye tracking technology may still be necessary. Therefore, despite its limitations with respect to high-end devices, the EyeX has the potential to further the dissemination of eye tracking technology to a broad audience, and could be a valuable asset in consumer and gaming applications as well as a subset of basic and clinical research settings.

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More information

Published date: 1 June 2017
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2016, The Author(s).
Keywords: Binocular, Eye movements, Eye tracking, Low cost, Saccade, Smooth pursuit, Vergence

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 485068
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485068
ISSN: 1554-351X
PURE UUID: f09e7139-439d-40b1-a797-dc08c525d5c9
ORCID for Guido Maiello: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6625-2583

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 28 Nov 2023 18:06
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 02:17

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Contributors

Author: Agostino Gibaldi
Author: Mauricio Vanegas
Author: Peter J. Bex
Author: Guido Maiello ORCID iD

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