Please put on your VR headsets, ladies and gents — virtual and augmented reality technology is getting a major upgrade as Google has acquired Eyefluence, an eye-tracking interface startup.
Eyefluence first shared the announcement on its website:
Today, we are excited to announce that the Eyefluence team is joining Google! With our forces combined, we will continue to advance eye-interaction technology to expand human potential and empathy on an even larger scale. We look forward to the life-changing innovations we’ll create together!
The announcement is timely as Google is poised to launch its Daydream VR platform in November with its Daydream View headset.
Marrying eye-tracking technology with VR tech allows for the development of head-mounted gear that can be controlled using just eye movements. Menu selections can be made just by holding your gaze on an option, and virtual landscapes can be navigated by simply surveying your surroundings. Auto-focus could be introduced based on what the user is looking at — stare at something long enough, and you'll be presented with higher definition images of it.
Improvements in AR/VR have the potential to revolutionize how we live in ways far beyond entertainment. Education with AR/VR can break through the four walls of the classroom and give students more immersive, three-dimensional instruction. Art, sports, and so much more can be elevated to new levels using VR, and pairing it with eye-tracking tech is just going to make the transition from our world to a virtual one feel even more seamless.
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