Building my own Eye Tracker

TODO: Include pix and a step-by-step description

Trying to get the PS Eye to work:

• Downloaded Driver from here: http://codelaboratories.com/products/eye/ 
• Information on the drivr can be found in this thread http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/2921/ 

Having sucessfully installed the driver on Windows7 (x86), I started the test application to see if the PS Cam is working.
Works...

However, I still don't get 60fps @ 640... what's the problem?
    Solution: http://codelaboratories.com/forums/viewthread/117/P10/

Problem after removing the IR Filter: the focal distace is a bit shorter => cam cannot focus on near objects

    Solution: Shorten the mount with sand paper!!
    Here: http://detsu.de/blog/index.php?post/2010/01/19/PS3eye-IR-filter-remove-focus


Hacking the PS Eye after the jump...

PS3 Eye

This Webcam is commonly used to create a DIY multi-touch display.
Thus, I believe it to be a good camera for my project.

Before the cam can be used for tracking, the IR blocking filter needs to be removed.
AFAIK, a filter to block standard light can be attached afterwards so that the IR light is enhanced.
This might result in better tracking result... here is why:

When you illuminate the eye with IR light and observe it through an IR sensitive camera with a visible light filter, the iris of the eye turns completely white and the pupil stands out as a high-contrast black dot. This makes tracking the eye much easier.

from http://www.instructables.com/id/The-EyeWriter/step8/Lite-it-up/

Here are some random links I found during my search:

• Dismounting the PS3 Eye: http://codelaboratories.com/research/view/ps3-eye-disassembly
• How to create an IR Filter (imho: blocking the "normal" light): http://photocritic.org/create-your-own-ir-filter/
• Create a head-mounted eye-tracker with PS3 Eye: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-EyeWriter
• Drivers for using PS3 Eye in Windows: http://codelaboratories.com/downloads

Before the cam can be used for tracking, a lens with a shorter focal length (8mm) needs to be used (why exactly??). ITU uses a standard off-the-shelf webcam without any modifications. Probably, this modification is just extra... However, what to I do now?? Buy a cam, such aus the one the ITU guys use, or use the hacked PS3 Eye??

I think this depends on my final choice... probably.
EyeWriter = PS3 cam and ITU = standard cam

Microsoft LifeCam Webcam VX-1000

Microsoft LifeCam Webcam VX-1000

This Webcam can be easily modified to make use of IR light.
This might be a good webcam to be used with some headmounting device, such as cheap sunglasses, or a baseball cap.

Opengazer

I should try this out!!

Opengazer
open-source gaze tracker for ordinary webcams

http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/opengazer/

===== Update =====
 Linux only :-(