Tobii's Driving Tech Keeps Your Eyes On The Road, Partner

Texting and driving, even tweeting and driving, or just-about-to-fall-asleep and driving -- either way, it's a big problem. Tobii Technology knows it, and this week they're introducing a new platform for drowsiness and distraction detection in driver safety systems. The platform, based on Tobii's advanced eye tracking technology, provides a reliable solution to enhance current driver safety systems and increase public safety on roadways.

"As the demands for more effective driver safety systems continue to increase globally, we are pleased to offer a platform that can be a game-changer for automakers that are driving innovation and seeking to offer the ultimate in safety and driver satisfaction," said Henrik Eskilsson, chief executive officer of Tobii Technology. "Eyes are the best gauge of a person's level of attention to the road, and our technology is unparalleled in the recognition of this critical driver condition."

In Europe, road accidents cause 35,000 fatalities annually, as reported by Eurostat. Estimates indicate that about 25 percent of all fatal accidents are caused by driver fatigue. In the U.S., the annual number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes is 41,000, and the number of people injured is as high as 2.5 million, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Over the last few years, Tobii has focused on advancing its technology in order to provide automobile manufacturers with a robust and cost-efficient solution, allowing for a comprehensive driver safety system that integrates detection of the cognitive state of the driver," said Nicolas Pezzarossa, general manager of Tobii Technology Germany. "With the right automotive partner, we believe we can put this lifesaving technology into the hands of consumers in a couple of years."

After thorough field testing and review by experts in the automotive industry, the Tobii platform has been proven to provide a most reliable and accurate measurement of a driver's level of drowsiness or distraction. The system tracks the driver's eyes and their openness and alerts when it identifies the risk of drowsiness or distraction. This significantly helps drivers to remain alert and avoid potentially fatal accidents.Eye control of the in-vehicle infotainment system allows users to interact with the system simply through the movement of their eyes. Using eye recognition, the vehicle recognizes individual drivers upon their entrance into the vehicle and can automatically activate personal driver settings. Instruments that the driver is not looking at or using can be automatically dimmed.

Wondering what it all looks like? There's a video just below.

Tags:  Driving, texting, Tobii