Improving user experience in gaze-based interaction

• Grant number: 12/04426-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computing Methodologies and Techniques
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Hitoshi Morimoto
• Grantee: Antonio Díaz Tula
• Host Institution: Instituto de Matemática e Estatística (IME). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to convert the master scholarship to a direct PhD scholarship. The master project aims to study a gaze-based interaction technique, developed by our group, known as Context Switching. During the first months of his research, Mr. Tula not only got to study the technique, but also proposed two modifications. The first eliminates a potential limitation of the original technique, improving the useful screen space, and the second one generalizes the technique. In a short period of time, Mr. Tula developed a system prototype of the first modification, named "Dynamic Context Switching", and performed a pilot user experiment resulting in a publication accepted as a poster for the most important international conference in the area of eye tracking technology, ETRA 2012. Based on the scientific maturity demonstrated by Mr. Tula during the first months, evidenced by the published paper and his excellent academic results obtaining maximum grades in two disciplines, we are asking FAPESP to convert his master scholarship into a direct PhD scholarship. We already applied to the Post-graduate Committee of IME/USP for this master to PhD promotion. This PhD project aims to continue investigating the Context Switching paradigm, developing a gaze-based interaction technology with a better usability, enabling its everyday use. To do so, the Context Switching paradigm will be extended, and also new algorithms for eye tracking will be developed to be used in natural environments without controlled illumination, which still remains as a challenge in the gaze tracking technology. As a contribution of this project, an open-source, low-cost and robust to changes in illumination conditions eye tracker will be developed which can be use in everyday activities. A basic activity to be studied is pointing and selection with gaze, fundamental of several computer applications. This kind of application will allow to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, and compare it with more traditional ways of gaze interaction. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BORSATO, FRANK H.; DIAZ-TULA, ANTONIO; MORIMOTO, CARLOS H.. xSDL: stroboscopic differential lighting eye tracker with extended temporal support. MACHINE VISION AND APPLICATIONS, v. 30, n. 4, p. 689-703, JUN 2019. (12/04426-0, 16/10148-3)

DIAZ-TULA, ANTONIO; MORIMOTO, CARLOS H.; RANVAUD, RONALD D.. A mathematical model of saccadic reaction time as a function of the fixation point brightness gain. ATTENTION PERCEPTION & PSYCHOPHYSICS, v. 77, n. 6, p. 2153-2165, AUG 2015. (12/04426-0, 10/14075-4, 11/00267-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

TULA, Antonio Díaz. Contributions for gaze interaction with virtual keyboards. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Matemática e Estatística (IME/SBI) São Paulo.