Two Step Gaze Interaction

Abstract

A computer system can be controlled with non-contact inputs, such as eye-tracking devices. A computer can enlarge a portion of a display adjacent a first gaze target in response to detecting a first action (e.g., pressing a touchpad). The computer can then allow a user to position a second gaze target in the enlarged portion (e.g., by looking at the desired location) and perform a second action in order to perform a computer function at that location. The enlarging can allow a user to identify a desired location for a computer function (e.g., selecting an icon) with greater precision.

1 . A method for providing an input to a text entry field of a user interface using a gaze point, the method comprising steps performed by a processor in communication with an eye tracking device and a non-transitory machine readable medium having stored instructions describing the steps, wherein the steps comprise:
 determining the gaze point of a user of the user interface on the user interface has remained on a particular area of the user interface for a first amount of time increments, wherein the particular area of the user interface is a text entry field; and   receiving the input from a non-gaze input device, and based upon the gaze point of the user remaining in the particular area for the first amount of time increments prior to receiving the input from the non-gaze input device, providing the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 changing an input focus from a different portion of the user interface to the particular area upon receiving the input from the non-gaze input device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the gaze point of the user has remained on the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time comprises:
 ignoring the gaze point of the user leaving the particular area for a second amount of time increments during the first amount of time increments.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to the non-gaze input device after the first predetermined amount of time, and continuing to provide the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface after the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to the non-gaze input device comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to below the user interface or a display on which the user interface is presented.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the non-gaze input device comprises:
 a touch display keyboard below the user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a web browser; and   the text entry field comprises a Uniform Resource Locater field.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a graphical user interface of an operating system; and   the text entry field comprises a search field.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a messaging interface; and   the text entry field comprises a send field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a notification; and   the text entry field comprises a response field.   
     
     
         11 . A system for providing an input to a text entry field of a user interface using a gaze point, wherein the system comprises:
 an eye tracking device for determining the gaze point of a user of the system on the user interface;   at least one processor in communication with the eye tracking device and a non-transitory machine readable medium having stored instructions, the stored instructions capable of configuring the at least one processor to perform at least:
 determining the gaze point of the user on the user interface has remained on a particular area of the user interface for a first amount of time increments, wherein the particular area of the user interface is a text entry field; and 
 determining that the input from a non-gaze input device has been received, and based upon the gaze point of the user remaining in the particular area for the first amount of time increments prior to receiving the input from the non-gaze input device, providing the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the stored instructions are capable of further configuring the at least one processor to perform at least:
 changing an input focus from a different portion of the user interface to the particular area upon receiving the input from the non-gaze input device.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the determining the gaze point of the user has remained on the particular area for the first predetermined amount of time comprises:
 ignoring the gaze point of the user leaving the particular area for a second amount of time increments during the first predetermined amount of time increments.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the stored instructions are capable of further configuring the at least one processor to perform at least:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to the non-gaze input device after the first predetermined amount of time, and continuing to provide the input from the non-gaze input device to the particular area of the user interface after the first predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to the non-gaze input device comprises:
 determining that the gaze point of the user has moved to below the user interface or a display on which the user interface is presented.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the user interface comprises a web browser; and   the text entry field comprises a Uniform Resource Locater field.