Is EyeX Controller same as Tobii PCEye Go?

[Karol]

Hello,

I just ordered EyeX controller but I’d like to know what is the difference between EyeX and PCEye ? can I use EyeX same way as PCEye Go out of box? I bought it for my mom, she was diagnosed with ALS 3 years ago and this would be great device to help her using PC.

Thanks in advice,
Karol

[Anders]

Hi Karol,

it’s great to hear that you got your mom a PCEye Go and I hope that it works really well for her.

The PCEye Go is a device from Tobii’s assistive product range which includes Tobii’s software for controlling the Windows environment using your eyes only. The EyeX Controller, on the other hand, is an eye tracker which is part of the EyeX development kit–it isn’t a product in itself. And while it does include some software, it is mostly of interest to developers–it cannot be used to control the windows environment out-of-the-box.

Also the packaging (software, level of support, etc) differ significantly.

[Masta Lomaster]

Hello,

-== “If you’re a developer you can use the SDK to make it do just that” ==-

That’s what I had to do when I got the REX device.
I put the source code of the program I wrote to control Windows
on github.

So far it uses the old Gaze SDK (2.0.1.296) shipped with REX and needs TobiiGazeCore32.dll (and probably TobiiGazeConfig32.dll). But I’m going to tailor it to the new EyeX SDK as far as I get a brand new EyeX device.

You may see how it works here.

In case you do not understand Russian (guessed?) switch on the Swahili subtitles. [ No kidding, it’s the only way to turn off subtitles by default on YouTube – to hide real subtitles in some exotic language, while keeping English ones almost empty.]

[Robert [Tobii]]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing the video and your code. It will be interesting to follow your progress of migrating from Gaze SDK to the EyeX SDK. Please share your progress in the Community Projects forum if you want.

Actually, the current version of the EyeX SDK is compatible with the Tobii REX hardware (if you have the latest firmware), so if you already have a REX you can start migrating right now. There are many features in the EyeX SDK that we think you’ll find useful, even though the EyeX SDK is designed mainly with multi-modal interaction in mind.

[Elias]

Can you comment more specifically on the technical differences of the PCEye Go and the PCEye X sensor? There is a difference by a magnitude in price and therefore cutbacks should be expected.

As performance should be comparable I would really love to learn how you overcome hardware deficits with your software.

Is there a detailed data sheet available for the EyeX sensor (resolution in degrees etc.)?

[Robert [Tobii]]

The big difference is that the PCEye Go eye tracker is a supported product based on an eye tracking platform that is manufactured in small quantities and with components that are still too expensive. The EyeX Controller is part of a developer kit, there is no support included (except on developer.tobii.com) and all components are ordered in higher volumes. We have worked really hard on the production and hardware sourcing side to lower the cost of each manufactured eye tracker.

In addition, a lot of work had to be done on the firmware/algo/hardware side to be able to maximize the performance of the new hardware platform, to be able to maintain the same level of tracking robustness across different faces/eye types and maintain robust tracking precision across the head movement box. I cannot share any details on this either, but there are some really awesome developers who made this possible.

Since the EyeX Controller is still in the final stages of development, we haven’t performed the full suite of accuracy/precision/robustness tests yet. When we get closer to the shipping date, we will be able to share more info on the hardware specs.

[Sage]

I have an EyeX controller and a pceye Go, but I would like to use the EyeX engine and the associated SDKs with the PCeye Go. Can the EyeX engine be used to manage the PCeye Go hardware?

[Anders]

Hi Sage,
the EyeX Engine can be used with a PCEye Go provided that the PCEye Go runs firmware version 1.1.5 or later. (A similar question was asked in this forum thread.)

Since the firmware that you need doesn’t seem to be available on the Tobii Assistive support web site, I’d suggest that you contact support to get it.

[Anders Mathisen [Tobii]]

Hi Sage,

Please send an email to [email protected], and we will provide you with the firmware you need.

Best Regards
/Anders
Tobii Support

[Anders Mathisen [Tobii]]

Update: Firmware 1.1.5 for PCEye Go is now released as part of the Tobii Gaze Interaction Software 2.6.0 update. You can run the PCEye Update Notifier to update your system, or manually update by downloading the following file:

http://www.tobii.com/Global/Assistive/Downloads_Training_Documents/GazeInteractionSoftware/Software/Tobii_Gaze_Interaction_Software_Enterprise_2.6.0.8.msi?epslanguage=en

Once TGIS is updated, you will be prompted to upgrade the PCEye Go firmware on first launch. If it doesn’t, open the “System Information” tab and initiate the update manually.

[Maurice Grinberg]

Thank you for the nicely working software! We are looking forward the forthcoming updates.

[Author]

Posts