Lenovo, Tobii team up on first eye-controlled notebook
updated 10:25 am EST, Tue March 1, 2011
Lenovo and Tobii make eye controll notebooks
Tobii and Lenovo used the start of CeBIT to show a self-proclaimed technology first in notebook control. A jointly-made prototype lets users steer the pointer and look at content just by staring at the appropriate spot on screen. The system can even make a basic check for the presence of eyes to dim the screen while away and brighten it again on the owner's return.
The initial prototype is significantly larger than an equivalent notebook to accommodate the large sensor, but Tobii hopes to get the size and cost down in the next two years by working with Lenovo. The two companies each have 10 prototypes to help work on the technology in a real environment.
Neither company was willing to commit to an official product launch, but Tobii's estimate has given a rough timeline for when an eye-guided computer might show on the market. Microsoft may already have an advantage as it now has a Kinect SDK for computers that will recognize body controls, but the Tobii system could still be the first to use a person's gaze.
