Danish startup The Eye Tribe working on eye-tracking smartwatch (video)

 March 6, 2015 - 11:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Danish startup The Eye Tribe is exploring the possibility of developing a smartwatch with a built-in eye sensor, Digital Spy reports.

Companies such as Samsung have included similar technology in their mobile devices, but bringing the feature to wearables would be a world first.

The Eye Tribe's concept device houses additional circuitry within its straps and makes use of a micro sensor and infra-red light to detect the user's eyes.

An eye-tracking smartwatch would allow the wearer to activate its display simply by glancing at it, and scroll through text messages by looking up and down.

"Our tracking system can be incorporated into many things, from Apple's mobile phones to smart TVs, and a future application could also be wearables," The Eye Tribe's head of mobile Anders Pedersen told Digital Spy.

"We have produced a prototype that will allow users to switch on the screen of their wearable device to read a text message just by glancing at it, and when they look away it will stop displaying.

"Right now we are pursuing the idea of doing this and have produced some prototypes and mockups, but right now the project is in its early stages."

The Eye Tribe has previously released cost-effective eye trackers that are compatible with mobiles, computers, automotive vehicles, home entertainment hardware and gaming devices.

The company is aiming to produce a working prototype of its eye tracker for smartwatches by the end of the year.