Methods and systems to increase accuracy of eye tracking
Systems and methods to monitor and interact with users viewing screens are disclosed. An example system includes a sensor to gather gaze data from a user viewing images on a display. The display has spatial coordinates. The system includes a processor communicatively coupled to the display and the sensor. The processor determines a first gaze location having first spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and calibration settings associated with determining gaze locations. The processor alters a portion of the display at or near the first gaze location. After the portion of the display has been altered, the processor determines a second gaze location having second spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the calibration settings. The processor performs a comparison of the first gaze location to the second gaze location. If the comparison does not meet a threshold, the processor updates the calibration settings based on the comparison and determines a third gaze location having third spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the updated calibration settings.
1. A system comprising:
a sensor to gather gaze data from a user viewing images on a display, the display having spatial coordinates; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the display and the sensor, the processor to:
determine a first gaze location having first spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and calibration settings associated with determining gaze locations;
alter a portion of the display that is offset to the first spatial coordinates by a pre-determined distance;
after the portion of the display has been altered, determine a second gaze location having second spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the calibration settings;
determine a difference between the first gaze location and the second gaze location;
compare the difference to a threshold; and
if the difference does not meet the threshold,
update the calibration settings to updated calibration settings based on the difference; and
determine a third gaze location having third spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the updated calibration settings.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to continue iterations of display alterations and difference determinations until the threshold is met.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to alter the portion of the display by changing a color of one or more pixels to contrast adjacent pixels.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to alter the portion of the display by including a first shape that contrasts a second shape surrounding or adjacent to the first shape.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to alter the portion of the display for a time interval between about 1 millisecond and about 100 milliseconds.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to alter the portion of the display periodically or aperiodically.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is associated with the pre-determined distance.
8. A method comprising:
presenting images to a user via a display, the display having spatial coordinates associated with the images;
gathering gaze data from the user viewing the images via a sensor;
determining a first gaze location having first spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and calibration settings associated with determining gaze locations;
altering a portion of the display that is offset to the first spatial coordinates by a pre-determined distance;
after the portion of the display has been altered, determining a second gaze location having second spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the calibration settings;
determining a difference between the first gaze location and the second gaze location;
comparing the difference to a threshold; and
if the difference does not meet the threshold,
updating the calibration settings to updated calibration settings based on the difference; and
determining a third gaze location having third spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the updated calibration settings.
9. The method of claim 8 , further including continuing iterations of display alterations and difference determinations until the threshold is met.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein altering the portion of the display includes changing a color of one or more pixels to contrast adjacent pixels.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein altering the portion of the display includes providing a first shape that contrasts a second shape surrounding or adjacent to the first shape.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein altering the portion of the display occurs for a time interval between 1 millisecond and 100 milliseconds.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion is repeatedly altered.
14. A tangible machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to:
present images to a user via a display, the display having spatial coordinates associated with the images;
gather gaze data from the user viewing the images via a sensor;
determine a first gaze location having first spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and calibration settings associated with determining gaze locations;
alter a portion of the display that is offset to the first spatial coordinates by a pre-determined distance;
after the portion of the display has been altered, determine a second gaze location having second spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the calibration settings;
determine a difference between the first gaze location and the second gaze location;
compare the difference to a threshold; and
if the difference does not meet the threshold,
update the calibration settings to updated calibration settings based on the difference; and
determine a third gaze location having third spatial coordinates based on the gaze data and the updated calibration settings.
15. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , further including instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to continue iterations of display alterations and difference determinations until the threshold is met.
16. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , further including instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to alter the portion of the display by changing a color of one or more pixels to contrast adjacent pixels.
17. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , further including instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to alter the portion of the display by providing a first shape that contrasts a second shape surrounding or adjacent to the first shape.
18. The tangible machine-readable storage medium of claim 14 , further including instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to alter the portion of the display for a time interval between 1 millisecond and 100 milliseconds.