Eye-tracking Umoove parks in closed-beta zone

(Phys.org) —A small company called Umoove, which specializes in eye- and head-tracking technology, will offer software development kits so that developers can grow the Umoove platform for mobile users everywhere. The company this week announced its intentions to release the tool kit soon but has already started signing up people as "closed beta" testers via its web site. Following the gated-access stage, Umoove will open wider to a full public beta launch. Umoove's platform will be open to everyone, the company chief and co-founder, Moti Krispil, said.

The company's patented software platform uses a device's front-facing camera to track head and eye movements. A company spokesperson said the cameras need not be high-end; budget phones with low resolution cameras will work. Umoove's technology strength is reportedly its ability to make the best use of data from any camera. Tech Crunch, which carried several details of the Umoove platform, noted that Umoove uses algorithms to fill in the gaps in low-quality data through real-time head/movement prediction components. Another high point about the technology is that it can work consistently in varied light conditions, as it adapts when detecting shifts in brightness.

The Umoove tool kit for eye and head control will work with Apple's iOS and Google's Android software systems.

The company was formed back in 2010; the company was first motivated to focus on eye and head tracking as a technology for the disabled, as one of the company's founders had a relative in need of an application of this type. Included in the technology repertoire are head tilts to control scrolling, staring at objects for selection, and head nods to answer OK to a command prompt.

In an interview last year, Krispil said the vision was that every developer include the Umoove API as an application feature. The company also hopes to partner with OEMs for system-level integration.

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