Eye-tracking is a technology that has been around and available for a while on computer screens, tablets and mobile phones, but SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI) have improved the technology and made it available to be integrated into mobile virtual reality (VR) technology.
SMI will be demonstrating their technology using a Samsung Galaxy S7 to show off the benefits of their eye-tracking, including improved visual experience, and lessened power demand on the smartphone via Foveated Rendering. They believe it will address problems that mobile VR experience when it places high demand on the processors in smartphones.
“Eye tracking technology will bring yet another level of sharpness and detail to untethered VR worlds,” said Pablo Fraile, director of ecosystems, mobile compute, ARM. “Our demonstration of SMI mobile eye tracking technology on ARM-based devices highlights how foveated rendering will increase the efficiency of mobile VR experiences without compromising frame rates or visual quality.”
SMI Director OEM Business Christian Villwock had this to say; “Given ARM’s global position as a mobile technology provider we are very pleased with the success of this collaboration, We have long believed that eye tracking is central to the future of all VR,including mobile, and having a company such as ARM align with this view is to us, a vindication of that long-held belief.”
SMI and ARM will be demonstrating their eye-tracking technology at GDC 2017, booth 1924.
For further information on SMI and eye-tracking technology, keep your eyes on VRFocus.