Automated 3D Content Fatigue Evaluation via Eye Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

The effects of 3D visual content on viewers, such as fatigue and discomfort, are not well understood, leading to subjective and potentially skewed results in content creation, as creators rely on personal experiences rather than quantitative analysis.

Innovation Solution

An automated system that compares viewer responses to 2D and 3D versions of the same content to identify statistically significant increases in fatigue indicators, such as eye movements and body movements, to determine portions that need modification and correlate these responses with frame-by-frame statistics to associate fatigue with specific parameters of 3D content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If creators rely on personal experiences and subjective observations to evaluate 3D content effects, then the evaluation process is simple and quick, but the results are skewed and lack statistical reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevaluation speedVSAvoidevaluation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of subjective human observation with an automated eye-tracking system that uses optical sensors and computational algorithms to objectively measure viewer responses. The system substitutes human judgment with machine-based detection of eye movement patterns, fixation durations, and pupil responses, thereby eliminating subjective bias while maintaining evaluation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system (eye-tracking technology) that mediates between the 3D content and the evaluator. This intermediary captures physiological responses directly, providing an objective bridge between the content being evaluated and the assessment criteria, thus resolving the contradiction between quick evaluation and accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If no automated evaluation system is used, then the system complexity is low, but the ability to quantify fatigue effects and provide data-driven insights is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidquantitative data availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation system is designed to be self-sufficient by automatically collecting, processing, and analyzing eye-tracking data without requiring external manual intervention. The system performs its own calibration, data acquisition, and initial analysis, thereby managing its own complexity internally while delivering comprehensive quantitative results to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the evaluation process into distinct functional modules: data collection (eye-tracking sensors), data processing (algorithmic analysis), and result generation (fatigue assessment reports). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, managing overall system complexity while enabling detailed quantitative analysis of viewer responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If detailed eye-tracking and body-movement monitoring are implemented, then the precision of fatigue detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefatigue detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional measurement system where a single integrated platform performs multiple functions: eye-position tracking, fixation detection, pupil size measurement, and body-movement monitoring. By consolidating these functions into one universal system rather than separate devices, the patent achieves high measurement precision while managing device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If comprehensive viewer response data is collected and analyzed, then the reliability of fatigue assessment is improved, but the loss of time for data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing of eye-tracking data during the viewing session itself, continuously calculating fixation patterns and eye-movement metrics in real-time or near-real-time. By preparing and pre-processing data as it is collected rather than analyzing all raw data after the session, the system maintains high assessment reliability while minimizing post-processing time delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2974301B1Techniques for automated evaluation of 3D visual content
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 INTEL CORP
  • EP2974301B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2974301B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2974301B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various embodiments are generally directed to automatically observing reactions of viewers of 2D and 3D versions of the same visual content, and comparing aspects of those observations for indications of fatigue in the viewing of the 3D version. An apparatus includes a processor element; and logic to compare a first ROI (region of interest) data associated with a first viewer of a first visual presentation of a 2D (two-dimensional) version of visual content to a second ROI data associated with a second viewer of a second visual presentation of a 3D (three-dimensional) version of the visual content; and identify an instance of a statistically significant difference in a region of interest between the first ROI data and the second ROI data for at least one frame of the visual content indicative of an instance of viewing fatigue of the second viewer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.