Eye tracker problems

Eye tracker not working or stops working.

1. Check that your eye tracking applications are running as expected and that you've completed any required setup, such as calibrating your eye tracker using its supplied software.

2. Check that the eye tracking device is connected securely to the computer/laptop/tablet.

3. Some eye trackers may misbehave sporadically if they are unable to draw enough power. If this is the case you may find your eye tracker software cannot detect the eye tracker, or lights on your eye tracker may turn off. To solve this issue you may want to try:

a) Prevent Windows from suspending or turning off USB devices. Restart Windows to check if the issue is resolved.

b) Try using a powered USB hub to connect your eye tracker.

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Poor eye tracking performance/accuracy.

1. Check that the eye tracking device is connected securely to the computer/laptop/tablet.

2. Check the eye tracker setup. The correct positioning is specific to each tracker, so check the tracker's documentation, but commonly the tracker should be in the middle of the screen and directly below it.

3. Is there too much light coming in through a window or a direct light source? Eye trackers typically use infra-red light, so can be confused if there is a strong source of IR light near you, such as the sun.

4. Don't look down - keep the screen & tracker level with your eyeline. Looking down closes your eyelid over your eye, reducing tracking accuracy.

5. Calibrate the eye tracker to an area less than the total screen size if you are experiencing poor performance at the screen edges. Alternatively sit slightly further from the screen.

6. Check your eye tracker supports your monitor size. Various eye trackers are limiter to 24 or 27 inch monitor setups, and performance degrades at larger monitor sizes.

7. If available, calibrate for more points (12 rather than 9, for example).

8. If available, when calibrating try to match the background/foreground colours to the product you will end up using, e.g. this on-screen keyboard.

9. An effective head rest can prevent head movement.

10. Sit so that your head is within the effective range of your eye tracker. For GazeTracker and TheEyeTribe this is between 45 and 75cm from the tracker/screen.

11. Try your eye tracker at different refresh rates, for example TheEyeTribe tracker can be set to 30fps or 60fps, which is achieved by starting the EyeTribe server with the "-f=30" or "-f=60" switch, e.g. "C:\Program Files (x86)\EyeTribe\Server\EyeTribe.exe" -f=60