Eye Tracking Two-Step Activation for Intentional GUI Selection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eye-tracking technologies for interacting with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) face limitations in user flexibility, particularly in dynamically activating menu items based on eye gaze, which can lead to unintentional activations and limited operational flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that utilize eye-tracking systems to detect a first user action (eye gaze) for selecting menu items and a second user action to activate functions associated with those items, incorporating a two-step process to ensure intentional activation, using infrared cameras and processors to map eye gaze orientation and trigger functions with precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If eye-tracking technology is used to interact with GUI, then hands-free operation is enabled, but user flexibility is limited and unintentional activations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoiduser flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The interaction process is segmented into distinct phases: a first user action (eye gaze) for selecting menu items and a second user action for activating functions. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between mere selection and intentional activation, thereby maintaining hands-free operation while preventing unintentional activations and preserving user flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first user action (eye gaze) serves as a preliminary action that selects menu items without immediately activating functions. This preliminary selection phase allows users to navigate and choose options before committing to activation, enhancing flexibility while maintaining hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If eye gaze alone activates functions, then operation speed is increased, but unintentional activations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation speedVSAvoidunintentional activations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The activation process is divided into two distinct user actions: selection (first action) and activation (second action). This segmentation maintains fast operation speed by eliminating intermediate steps while introducing a reliability check through the second action requirement, thereby preventing unintentional activations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by maintaining the selected state after the first user action, allowing users to verify their selection before the second action triggers activation. This feedback mechanism ensures intentional activation while preserving rapid operation speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If traditional GUI interaction is used, then activation precision is high, but user effort and cognitive load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation precisionVSAvoiduser effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction (mouse, keyboard, touch) with eye-tracking-based interaction. This substitution maintains activation precision through the two-action verification system while dramatically reducing user effort and cognitive load by enabling natural, hands-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11003242B2Eye tracking

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH

AI summary

A first user action (201) comprising an eye gaze (211) is detected. At least one menu item from a plurality of menu items is selected based on the orientation (212) of the eye gaze (211) of the first user action (201). A second user action (202) is detected. Based on the second user action (202), a function (209) associated with a given one of the at least one first menu item is activated.