SCEA R&D's apparent love affair with eye tracking also continues:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20120300061.pdf
That's several eye tracking patents they've filed over the last 18 months or so, ranging from the tracking itself through application in games and non-game software.
Almost reminds me of when a bunch of 'rear-touch' patents popped up in the run up to Vita's announcement...but again, who knows.
This is a big find. I suggest others take the time to read through the patent. It's all about affecting devices based on user(s) gaze (eye tracking).
One example is a large screen TV in a bar with multiple windows in the corners of the screen and a large central window with sound. A computer tracks the attention of viewers and makes the window with the most attention the central window.
A XTV commercial detects the users gaze on a target area and brings up a browser window for more information.
A Car alerts the driver if it detects the drivers eyes are not directed at a potential threat.
A PDF text display outputs audio prompts if it detects the users gaze is not directed at the screen.
This is Sony forward thinking and planning to incorporate new features in their CE products. Sorta goes with their trying to dominate the video imaging sensor market. Eye tracking is also necessary for glassless S3D on 4K TVs to target a users eyes rather than forcing him to move inches to the right or left to be in a sweet spot.
This also pretty much confirms that high resolution cameras will also be IR depth cameras (IR is the primary light source to track eye movement indoors) coming with both game consoles. Eventually most CE products will have embedded APUs and eye tracking.
How accurate and how viable this technique; how much resolution does the IR camera need and how far from the camera in what viewing angle must the user be, processing power etc. is not specified and this may limit applications.
___________________________________________________________________________________
"For future reference, the next links a that are merely quotes of Jeff Rigby will be deleted without comment and result in infractions or temp-bans." on Beyond 3D.
Supporting embedded links and Bolding don't make it across with copy & paste, you must put the idea in the cites into your own words and support the cite if you wish to use it.