Documentation for developing a driver

[Rune]

I’m currently in the process of writing a driver for Tobii Eye Tracker 5 for Mac.

In this context, I’m very interested in getting access to technical documentation regarding sending commands and encoding/interpreting data send between the device and host through USB.

Is such documentation available?

Thanks for your help!

[Grant [Tobii]]

Hi @runem, thank you for your request. Unfortunately, we cannot provide this information publically and the Macintosh operating system is not supported by the ET5.

In addition, the creation of API wrappers is prohibited by the end-user licence agreement as outlined @ https://developer.tobii.com/license-agreement/
Our apologies for the disappointing news.

[Rune]

Okay, thanks for your answer!

[Rune]

Just to be clear, is the implementation of software that reads USB data directly from the Eye Tracker in order to control the mouse using eyes (without using existing SDK), interpreted as an API wrapper? If that’s the case, is it possible to get a licenses that would allow for implementing such a thing?

[Grant [Tobii]]

Hi @runem, thanks for your patience. I have not forgotten about your request, however it’s a rather unusual scenario for which I am trying to get you further details.

Could you kindly clarify exactly what hardware and software you currently possess from the Tobii Side (ET Model, SDK’s, etc) and what licencing agreement (if any) you currently possess.. thanks!

[Rune]

Hi again, no problem, I understand that my request is an unusual scenario.

I’m using Tobii Eye Tracker 5 hardware without any SDKs. Therefore, (and please correct me if I’m wrong) the only relevant licensing agreement is the general end-user license agreement.

To clarify my scenario, I want to make it possible to use the ET5-hardware with MacOS (solely for my own use). I’m aware that Tobii isn’t officially supported on MacOS and therefore my plan is to make a MacOS app that controls my mouse using eye tracking. To do this, I won’t use any existing SDK’s/drivers and will be sending my own commands through the USB cable to the eye tracker in order to subscribe to gaze data. This is basically what the project “talonvoice” already does.

Would my project be interpreted as an API wrapper? If that’s the case, is it possible to get a licenses that would allow for implementing such a thing?

In addition, I would love to be able to stream gaze data in 60Hz and read in another post on this forum (“tobii-5-only-33hz-for-sampling-frequency”) that it requires an advanced license. Is it possible to stream 60Hz gaze data without buying and using the special license with the IS5 Evaluation Kit?

Thanks!

[Grant [Tobii]]

Hi @runem, so ultimately I am afriad that we cannot officially offer a licence that fits the requirement of your project. Whilst the intention to backward engineer a USB Drivers would not constitute an API wrapper and indeed your intentions are purely for interaction, never the less it is still using the product in a fashion for which we cannot guarantee operation or quality and therefore officially cannot be supported by us, meaning we are unable to assist in providing data regarding the content of USB traffic.

Our apologies for the disappointing news, but hopefully you understand our position. Best Wishes.

[Hongbin Zou]

In my case, Talon’s custom driver doesn’t work with 4C or 5 in Win10. @runem Does it work for you in MacOS/Windows?

[Hongbin Zou]

Never mind, Talonvoice works now.

But isn’t what Talonvoice does (backward engineering USB drivers) against tobii’s license agreements? Why they are allowed to do that? Or actually people can do anything they want (including research/medical usage, linux/mac support etc.) as long as they build their custom drivers for 4c/et5?

I’m just curious.

[Grant [Tobii]]

Hi @dragonus, yes you are right that unless a company have indeed come to a special agreement with Tobii (which can happen for large requests or corporate clients, etc) then producing such a driver is still a breach of the end user licence agreement.

Regardless whether or not a custom driver is created, still the Tobii end-users licence agreements are to be adhered to.

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