Monday, June 9th 2014
SteelSeries Introduces The Sentry Eye Tracker
Today, as E3 kicks off in Los Angeles, SteelSeries, global gaming peripherals leader, announced eye tracking technology that is specifically designed and optimized for gamers. In a partnership forged earlier this year with Tobii Technology, the global leader in eye tracking, SteelSeries is introducing the Sentry Eye Tracker. This virtual, visual coach provides players with the ability to track, analyze and benchmark eye movement and behaviors during gameplay in order to improve and ultimately win.
"When you think about the concept of eye tracking, you immediately think of innovation and next generation technology; apply that to gaming and you have something truly unique for gamers," said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries CTO. "At its core, the Sentry employs eye-tracking functionality from our partner, Tobii, who has been a pioneer in eye tracking across many industries. When you take that core functionality and apply the deep gaming expertise of SteelSeries, we think we are able to offer a product that is innovative and incredibly beneficial to gamers."
THE VIRTUAL & VISUAL COACH
The SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker brings players an entirely new way to train for competitive gaming, by allowing the player to analyze a wide range of statistics based on where and how long a user focused, or fixated, on the screen. Fixations per Minute (FPM) tracks how often a user moves his or her eye gaze and attention around the screen; low values indicate that the gamer is able to process a lot of information. For comparison, FPM in eye tracking is the same type of correlation as APM or the total numbers of actions per minute a player can perform.
In order to provide gamers with a standard for their eye-tracking stats, SteelSeries is working with some of the world's top-performing professional gamers to establish peak performance goals. This benchmarking will allow users to compare their eye movements in gaming sessions with those of professional-level champions. It's these benchmark comparisons that will allow users to gain deeper insight into how to use their eyes to improve their game.
Chief Gaming Officer and former captain of Team Fnatic, Patrik 'cArn' Sättermon, who believes in the value and benefit of innovative technologies like eye-tracking said, "We are constantly looking for ways to improve, even if its improvement at a granular level, that will sometimes be the difference between death and victory. Our players are incredibly motivated to not only use the Sentry Eye Tracker for their own gaming, but to be able to create standards that other players can measure their progress against."
OPTICAL INNOVATION
Beyond the features of analyzing and benchmarking, the Sentry Eye Tracker also has the capability to enhance gameplay by using eye movement as a new type of in-game control. SteelSeries and Tobii are working together to offer this functionality in the future. With the capacity to operate and control games with eye movement, the game enhancement opportunities are endless.
SteelSeries and Tobii will also work with additional partners to implement eye-tracking functionality into other platforms specifically dedicated towards gamers. For example, Overwolf is working with the Sentry to optimize the social aspect of gaming by implementing its overlay application with eye-tracking accessibility. It will provide users of the SteelSeries Sentry with instant access to their social media channels and web, as well as the ability to share their gaming sessions amongst community and friends.
The SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker will be available to gamers later this year. For more information, video content, information for game developers and to stay up-to-date on the product announcements, please visit steelseries.com/steelseries-sentry-eye-tracker.
"When you think about the concept of eye tracking, you immediately think of innovation and next generation technology; apply that to gaming and you have something truly unique for gamers," said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries CTO. "At its core, the Sentry employs eye-tracking functionality from our partner, Tobii, who has been a pioneer in eye tracking across many industries. When you take that core functionality and apply the deep gaming expertise of SteelSeries, we think we are able to offer a product that is innovative and incredibly beneficial to gamers."
The SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker brings players an entirely new way to train for competitive gaming, by allowing the player to analyze a wide range of statistics based on where and how long a user focused, or fixated, on the screen. Fixations per Minute (FPM) tracks how often a user moves his or her eye gaze and attention around the screen; low values indicate that the gamer is able to process a lot of information. For comparison, FPM in eye tracking is the same type of correlation as APM or the total numbers of actions per minute a player can perform.
In order to provide gamers with a standard for their eye-tracking stats, SteelSeries is working with some of the world's top-performing professional gamers to establish peak performance goals. This benchmarking will allow users to compare their eye movements in gaming sessions with those of professional-level champions. It's these benchmark comparisons that will allow users to gain deeper insight into how to use their eyes to improve their game.
Chief Gaming Officer and former captain of Team Fnatic, Patrik 'cArn' Sättermon, who believes in the value and benefit of innovative technologies like eye-tracking said, "We are constantly looking for ways to improve, even if its improvement at a granular level, that will sometimes be the difference between death and victory. Our players are incredibly motivated to not only use the Sentry Eye Tracker for their own gaming, but to be able to create standards that other players can measure their progress against."
OPTICAL INNOVATION
Beyond the features of analyzing and benchmarking, the Sentry Eye Tracker also has the capability to enhance gameplay by using eye movement as a new type of in-game control. SteelSeries and Tobii are working together to offer this functionality in the future. With the capacity to operate and control games with eye movement, the game enhancement opportunities are endless.
SteelSeries and Tobii will also work with additional partners to implement eye-tracking functionality into other platforms specifically dedicated towards gamers. For example, Overwolf is working with the Sentry to optimize the social aspect of gaming by implementing its overlay application with eye-tracking accessibility. It will provide users of the SteelSeries Sentry with instant access to their social media channels and web, as well as the ability to share their gaming sessions amongst community and friends.
The SteelSeries Sentry Eye Tracker will be available to gamers later this year. For more information, video content, information for game developers and to stay up-to-date on the product announcements, please visit steelseries.com/steelseries-sentry-eye-tracker.
4 Comments on SteelSeries Introduces The Sentry Eye Tracker
Reminds me of OCZ neural impulse thing a few years ago.....they sold a few then it disappeared, never to be seen again.
Or pause a game when I close my eyes for more than 2 seconds.
It also seems like this is the kind of thing Valve wanted a few years back when they were investigating sensors to determine the mood of the player. If your eyes widen, it could be used in a game trying to induce fear to suggest fear has been accomplished and provide the player dynamically more of what works on the player. As it starts to diminish in fear factor, you could have the computer begin probing to determine what new horrors to display. Switching them in and out to determine what works and what doesn't.
Sounds great, right? Too bad a niche peripheral won't get the kind of traction to help us get to a future where our games are adjusting to our moods because, well, ...they'll be niche. Maybe when they're built into every monitor/tablet...