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Intel Takes Stake In Eye-Tracking Firm Tobii Technologies

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Intel has reportedly invested $20.8 million for a 10% stake in Tobii Technologies, a Swedish company that has cutting-edge technology that allows you to control PC behavior using your eyes. According to the Wall Street Journal, which picked up the stock from Computer Sweden, the company's eye-tracking technology works by sending out a pattern of infrared light that is reflected in a user's eyes, allowing the computer to determine exactly where you are looking on the screen.

It is, I can confirm, cool technology; I visited with Tobii earlier this month at the CeBIT trade show in Hanover, Germany. The technology is used commercially now for testing advertising; it also has applications for PC controls for the disabled. The technology so far is way too expensive for broad adoption, alas.

I tried out the technology, and was able to do things like flip through a set of pictures or navigate through software applications simply by changing my focus on the screen. At CeBIT, the company also demonstrated two versions of its EyeAsteroids arcade game - the world's first eye-controlled arcade game. The latest version is not only eye-controlled, but also in 3D.