Gaze and Eyetracking in Virtual Environments

By using eye tracking within immersive environments (VEs), we can automatically capture and analyse which areas in the virtual world the user is observing. We can gather data on the way their eyes are mapping the environment around them, and can change the scene to either stimulate their actions, or in response to them.

For this research, we developed a method of integrating a head mounted eye tracking system into the VieGen framework. We have successfully proved its opperation at tracking a users gaze vector and point of view, and have added extra functionality to further supplement its use in a virtual world.

Potential deployment scenarios for this technology could include:

• Consumer focused market research and analysis
• Physiological study of the eyes behaviour as they react to the viewed environment
• As an intuitive, alternative or complementary method of user interaction