Apple has been granted a patent (via AppleInsider) that describes a method for tracking eye movement and using it to control UI elements on computing devices. The gaze-based control system also includes methods designed to counteract visual effects that can occur when a person stares at a fixed space for a long stretch of time, which can trick their eyes into thinking some UI elements have disappeared completely.
The patent overall describes ways in which future Mac or iOS devices could use their built-in camera equipment to track user eye movement, and then to relate those movements to onscreen elements, like a cursor. The cursor would then follow a user’s gaze, in certain instances, and translate that to on-screen activities. The main purpose of the patent isn’t to describe the specifics of such a system, however – it’s instead meant to flesh out tech aimed directly at countering the so-called Troller Effect, which can result in certain UI elements (like the cursor) fading or disappearing if a user stares at another fixed point for too long.
Source:
http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/20/apple-patents-eye-tracking-and-visual-control-tech-for-mac-ios-and-beyond/
