Eye Phone: Could This Be The End of Touch Screens?
Apple’s New Eye Tracking Feature Will Transform How You Use iPhone & iPad
Controlling your smartphone with your eyes might sound like sci-fi fantasy, but it’s about to become a reality for millions of iPhone users worldwide.
Apple has just confirmed that it’s bringing eye tracking to both the iPhone and iPad. Using cutting-edge AI, this tool will let you navigate your Apple device using just your eyes.
“Eye Tracking uses the front-facing camera to set up and calibrate in seconds, and with on-device machine learning, all data used to set up and control this feature is kept securely on device, and isn't shared with Apple,” the company explained. This eye-tracking tool is one of several exciting new ‘accessibility features’ announced by Apple this week.
Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, shared, "We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives. That's why for nearly 40 years, Apple has championed inclusive design by embedding accessibility at the core of our hardware and software. We're continuously pushing the boundaries of technology, and these new features reflect our long-standing commitment to delivering the best possible experience to all of our users."
How does Apple Eye Tracking work?
Eye Tracking works seamlessly across iPadOS and iOS apps, requiring no additional hardware or accessories. Once set up, users can navigate through app elements and use Dwell Control to activate functions, including physical buttons, swipes, and other gestures, solely with their eyes. This game-changing feature will launch "later this year," according to Apple.
What Are The Benefits of Eye Tracking Devices?
This innovation could be transformative for disabled individuals, offering a new level of independence and accessibility. For those with mobility impairments, eye tracking provides a way to interact with their devices without needing to touch the screen. This can significantly improve the quality of life, allowing for more effortless communication, entertainment, and daily tasks.
Moreover, this technology hints at a future where touchscreens might become obsolete. With advancements in eye-tracking and AI, the way we interact with our devices could shift entirely, paving the way for more intuitive and immersive experiences. Imagine a world where your eyes are the only tool you need to navigate the digital landscape.
Among the other new features, Apple also introduced a tool to reduce motion sickness for passengers in moving vehicles. The Vehicle Motion Cues feature uses animated dots on the screen edges to represent changes in vehicle motion, helping to reduce sensory conflict and motion sickness.
Another exciting addition is Music Haptics, which uses the iPhone's Taptic Engine to enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music through vibrations. Additionally, Apple is rolling out new speech features allowing users to assign custom utterances to Siri for app shortcuts, aimed at assisting those with speech conditions.