What it is
A sensing subsystem that estimates gaze direction and, in some systems, vergence distance.
How it works
Infrared illumination creates corneal reflections; a small sensor images them and software maps them to gaze angle.
Why it matters
Gaze enables foveated rendering, hands-free selection and — critically for eyewear — adaptive focus that follows the eye.
Advantages
- Hands-free input
- Enables adaptive optics
- Reduces rendering cost
Current limitations
- Power hungry
- Calibration drift
- Sensitive biometric data
Commercial readiness
Common in headsets, emerging in glasses-form devices.
Development timeline
2023
Gaze-driven interfaces ship in mainstream headsets