We currently have four eye trackers in the Active Vision Lab. For information about these and our video editing suite see below. The AVL is part of CORE: the centre for oculomotor research at the University of Dundee. We have access to a range of eye trackers and other facilities through this centre. For more information on the Centre's facilities and activities click here.
Positive Science mobile eye tracker
Our newest eye tracker is supplied by Positive Science LLC and is a head-mounted video-based system. This system has both tethered and mobile options. When tethered, video feeds are streamed to a mac and eye position is fitted on-line in real time. The mobile option allows complete freedom of movement for the participant, with video data recorded onto portable digital recorders. The kit is exceptionally lightweight, with recording gear housed in a small waist bag.
Eye position is calculated using Positive Science's Yarbus software. This software produces robust and reliable estimates of eye position in both tethered and mobile recording conditions. We have fund the options available for setup and calibration to be excellent and allow good tracking in a range of conditions.
EyeLink II
Our EyeLink II eye tracker is used in a range of projects in the lab. This eye tracker is made by SR Research Ltd and has a typical spatial accuracy of better than 0.25 degrees and a temporal accuracy of up to 500 Hz. This eye tracker is used for experiments where stimuli are viewed on a computer screen, with the participant seated in front of the monitor. Saccades and fixations are classified using software supplied by SR Research Ltd. Subsequent analyses use MATLAB-based software developed in-house.
RIT wearable eye tracker
This eye tracker is used for recording eye movements during unconstrained real world activities. Our real world eye tracker consists of a base unit and software supplied by ISCAN, together with head-mounted optics supplied by Jason Babcock. The video signals from the two cameras (scene and eye) are compressed into a single video signal. This signal is recorded to a miniDV, housed in a rucksack worn by the participant. This eye tracker is robust to both indoor and outdoor recording environments.
After completion of the experiment the scene and eye signals are separated and played through software housed in the ISCAN base unit in order to extract gaze position. This eye tracker allows gaze position to be calculated to a realistic accuracy of 1 degree, and with a temporal resolution of 60 Hz. After fitting the gaze position marker using the ISCAN software, analysis involves frame-by-frame extraction of eye movement data using a video editing suite (see below).
Video Editing Suite
This editing suite was paid for on a Royal Society Research Grant. The suite comprises 2 JVC miniDV player/recorders with remote controller, ISCAN base unit, channel mixer, A-D converter, and Dell PC with video capture card and editing software.