A partnership between SteelSeries and Tobii technology has resulted in an eye-tracking camera for video gaming that is called Sentry. By detecting the eye in its three dimensional shape, the device can register the eye’s movements and determine which areas of the screen are active at particular points in time.

Besides directional movement, the device also registers the length of fixation on relevant regions. This allows the player to determine whether too much or too little time is persistently spent attending certain areas of the screen.

Sentry uses Fixations Per Minute (FPM) in order to assess screen activity. A low FPM results from quick shifts in gaze and indicates the ability to quickly process gaming information, which ultimately connects to an increase in the actions performed per minute.

With the data, Sentry is able to produce an assortment of descriptive statistics and figures that players may analyze to assess their screen activity and performance. In addition, by working with expert gamers, SteelSeries is setting goals of peak performance so that aspiring gamers can compare their abilities to those of industry professionals.

As of now, the device will be limited to game performance and training. In the future however, Steel Series hopes to release an eye-tracker that allows for actual control within the game. 

In fact, this technology need not be restricted to gaming. For example, visual control of the screen may allow disabled users to move cursors and perform tasks on a computer; a possibility that grew after Intel invested $20.8 million dollars in Tobii.

The screen is lit with a heat map that allows players to understand their visual activity. Photo credit: Techgage Networks Inc.

Parrot MiniDrones

Parrot USA designs and manufactures high-end technological products for smartphones and tablets. Founded in 1994, the company specializes on hands-free communication systems and, wait for it... unmanned aerial vehicles!

With more than 170 thousand users, 10 years of total flight time, 2.9 million flights and a high altitude record of 199.03 meters, Parrot has completely revolutionized the way we see commercial robotic 

Previously, the company’s UAV unit was limited to the AR Drone 2.0 and the AR Drone 2.0 GPS edition. This past week however, the Parrot team unveiled its new and exciting collection of toy robots, which includes both aerial crafts and terrestrial rollers.

The aerial mini-drone is called Rolling Spider, a quadcopter with four motors that can move both terrestrially and aerially by leaving behind its two large wheels during takeoff. The other product is an all-terrain ground roller called Jumping Sumo. With a wide-angle camera and live video screening/recording, the Sumo can jump up to 2.6 feet max.

The two products, controlled from a smartphone or tablet through a downloadable app, will be available on the US market by August for $100-$160.