Gaze detection in a 3D mapping environment

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one sensing device configured to produce a sequence of three dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of a computerized system and to detect light reflected off an element of an eye of the user; and

a processor coupled to the at least one sensing device and configured to process the 3D maps in order to identify a gesture performed by the user and to identify a direction of a gaze of the user based on the light reflected off the element of the eye, and to control a function of the computerized system responsively to the gesture and the direction of the gaze.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the element is selected from a list comprising a pupil, an iris and a cornea.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the gesture responsively to a position of a finger in the 3D maps.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises identifying an interactive item presented on a display coupled to the computerized system and in the direction of the gaze, and changing a state of the interactive item.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises identifying a device coupled to the computerized system and in the direction of the gaze, and changing a state of the device.

6. A computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to receive a sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of the computer, and to receive an input indicative of light reflected off an element of an eye of the user,

wherein the instructions cause the computer to process the 3D maps in order to identify a gesture performed by the user and to identify a direction of a gaze of the user based on the light reflected off the element of the eye, and to control a function of the computerized system responsively to the gesture and the direction of the gaze.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a sequence of three-dimensional (3D) maps of at least a part of a body of a user of a computerized system;

processing the 3D maps in order to identify a gesture performed by the user;

identifying a direction of a gaze of the user by analyzing light reflected off an element of the eye; and

controlling a function of the computerized system responsively to the gesture and the direction of the gaze.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the element is selected from a list comprising a pupil, an iris and a cornea.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein processing the 3D maps comprises identifying a position of a finger in the 3D maps.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein identifying the position of the finger comprises detecting a point-select gesture with respect to an interactive item, in which the finger moves toward the interactive item, and then moves along a plane from the interactive item.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein identifying the position of the finger comprises detecting a point-touch gesture with respect to an interactive item, in which the finger makes an initial movement toward the interactive item, and then moves in a direction perpendicular to the initial movement.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein identifying the position of the finger comprises detecting respective locations of a tip and a knuckle of the finger, and identifying a direction in which the finger is pointing responsively to the detected locations.

13. The method according to claim 7 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises identifying an interactive item presented on a display coupled to the computerized system and in the direction of the gaze, and changing a state of the interactive item.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to the gaze.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to a vocal command received from the user.

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the state of the interactive item is changed responsively to the gesture.

17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein identifying the position of the finger comprises detecting a pointing motion of a finger, and wherein changing the state comprises moving the identified interactive item on the display in a direction pointed to by the finger.

18. The method according to claim 7 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises performing an action associated with an interactive item presented in the direction of the gaze on a display coupled to the computerized system, upon detecting that the gesture comprises a motion of a limb toward the display, followed by a deceleration of the motion of the limb toward the display, and then followed by a motion of the limb away from the display.

19. The method according to claim 7 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises activating, by the computerized system, a power saving technique upon the user directing the gaze away from the display.

20. The method according to claim 7 , wherein controlling the function of the computerized system comprises identifying a device coupled to the computerized system and in the direction of the gaze, and changing a state of the device.