SMI, Tablet Kiosk Collaborate to produce eye tracking tablet PC

GERMANY: SensoMotoric Instruments GmbH (SMI) of Germany, eye-tracking technology solution provider is collaborating with Tablet Kiosk, manufacturer of enterprise-grade Tablet PCs, to develop and produce the first Tablet PC with market-ready eye tracking integration.

SMI's remote eye tracking technology was integrated seamlessly into TabletKiosk's new Sahara EyeSlate, allowing for contact free eye control that does not require an external eye tracking module.

TabletKiosk and SMI plan to market the Sahara EyeSlate both as an augmentative/alternative communication device (AAC) and also as a powerful Windows 7 and Windows 8 Tablet PC that can be controlled via eye gaze, touch, voice or handwriting recognition in lieu of a physical keyboard and mouse.

Included with the system will be SMI's powerful Eye Tracking Software Developer's Kit (SDK) so that developers can integrate the Sahara EyeSlate Tablet PC's eye tracking functionality into their existing software solutions.

SMI's remote eye tracking technology is robust regardless of eye color or age of the user, it accommodates eyeglasses and contact lenses and allows for a wide range of head movements of the user.

"We are excited to partner with SMI to announce the Sahara EyeSlate Tablet PC with eye tracking technology," said Martin Smekal, president and CEO of TabletKiosk.

"As a specialty hardware manufacturer, TabletKiosk strives to align itself with cutting edge technology partners like SMI to jointly create customized and purpose-based hardware computing solutions," added Smekal.

Christian Villwock, director of SMI's OEM Solutions Business, said: "The use of eye tracking technology is gaining momentum in many application fields ranging from AAC, gaming and medical screening to gaze interaction in other industry and prosumer applications. We are proud to work with TabletKiosk and are convinced that this new all-in-one tablet PC provides tremendous customer value in many of these fields."