Eye Convergence Measurement for Attention Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring attention are inefficient, requiring extensive data collection and complex calculations, often mixing attention with other cognitive processes and taking too long to produce reliable results, leading to inaccurate and resource-intensive assessments.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures attention by detecting eye convergence during fixations, which is modulated in response to visual stimulation, allowing for the prediction of attention shifts and differentiation between conscious and unconscious attention, using a simpler data set and reducing calculation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple eye behaviours are measured to obtain conclusions about attention, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and calculation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and isolates eye convergence as a specific, distinct parameter from the complex mixture of multiple eye behaviours. By focusing solely on convergence angle during fixations rather than analyzing saccades, blinks, fixation durations, and other parameters simultaneously, the system achieves reliable attention measurement with reduced complexity. This extraction principle separates the useful signal (convergence-modulated attention) from the noisy background of other eye movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process is segmented into distinct phases: detecting eye fixations as separate events, then measuring convergence angle specifically during these fixation periods. This segmentation allows the system to isolate attention-related convergence signals from other cognitive processes that manifest during different eye movement phases, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring continuous analysis of all eye behaviours.
2Reliability
If big amounts of data are collected and heavy calculations are performed, then measurement reliability is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting eye fixations first, then only measuring convergence angle during these identified fixation periods. This preliminary detection step filters out irrelevant data collection, allowing the system to focus computational resources exclusively on measuring attention during relevant time windows. Consequently, reliable attention measurements are obtained with significantly reduced data collection and calculation requirements compared to continuous monitoring of all eye behaviours.
3Reliability
If long time scales are used to measure attention states, then measurement reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs periodic action by measuring convergence angle repeatedly during successive eye fixations, which occur naturally at regular intervals during normal viewing. Each fixation provides an independent measurement opportunity, allowing the system to build reliable attention assessments through multiple brief measurements rather than requiring long continuous observation periods. This periodic sampling during fixations achieves reliability while minimizing time loss.
4Measurement precision
If multiple eye behaviours are analyzed, then measurement precision is improved, but purity of attention indicator decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts eye convergence during fixations as a pure indicator of attention, separating it from other eye behaviours that reflect different cognitive processes. By measuring only convergence angle during fixation periods and excluding data from saccades, blinks, and other eye movements, the system maintains high attention indicator purity while achieving sufficient measurement precision through focused analysis of this single, attention-specific parameter.
Data Source
AI summary
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of measuring attention of a person comprising presenting one or more stimulus aimed at attracting attention of the person; and obtaining positions of the eyes of the person. The method further comprises detecting one or more eye fixations from the obtained positions of the eyes; and measuring the angle of convergence of the eyes over time from the obtained positions of the eyes during one or more of the detected eye fixations.