Why choose Tobii Pro Glasses 3 for eye tracking research

Wearable eye trackers, or eye tracking glasses, have expanded the horizons of research labs by allowing participants to move freely indoors and outdoors while enabling investigators to collect objective data about visual attention and other cognitive processes in real-world scenarios. These devices are now used in various research fields such as psychology, sports, and human factors and offer insights beyond traditional research applications into areas like UX, shopping, and real-world navigation.

When selecting a wearable eye tracker for a research study, several criteria should be considered. We have summarized key questions to ask an eye tracking hardware supplier, focusing on functionality, data integrity, usability, and compatibility:

1. What is the accuracy and precision of eye tracking?
2. How reliable is eye tracking data, and what raw data is provided?
3. How does calibration work?
4. Where will the eye tracking data be processed and stored after the experiment?
5. How can I monitor my live eye tracking experiments, and what equipment is required?
6. How does Areas of Interest ( AOI) mapping in the software work?
7. How well do the glasses perform under different lighting conditions?
8. Is the wearable hardware compatible with other multimodal solutions?

Answering these questions will guide the selection of a wearable eye tracker that ensures reliable collection and secure processing of raw data, streamlines data analysis, and performs effectively even in challenging conditions. This article will address these questions specifically regarding Tobii Pro Glasses 3.

High-quality, accurate, and precise eye tracking data

When it comes to our eye tracking systems, we hold ourselves to the highest data quality standards. We share our performance test procedures so our customers can have a full picture of how we test and report our quality metrics. We measured the performance of Tobii Pro Glasses 3 in a controlled lab under varying environmental conditions such as luminance and distance to the target. We also tested the effect of slippage over time during a recording. Accuracy, precision, and data loss are calculated in different regions of a visual field with metrics based on binocular data.

The following are the metrics summarizing Tobii Pro Glasses 3 performance:

• The mean accuracy is 0.6°
• The mean precision is 0.03°
• The mean data loss is 0.01%
• Tobii Pro Glasses 3 data quality performance is minimally affected by distance to the target, indoor light conditions, and slippage.

In the Tobii Pro Glasses 3 metrics report, you can find an in-depth walk-through of how we measured and validated the glasses’ data quality performance.

Reliable raw data captured at 100Hz

To determine the reliability of eye tracking data, it is important to understand how the gaze point is detected and calculated. Tobii eye trackers use near-infrared light to illuminate the eyes, creating reflection patterns on the pupil and cornea. The trackers have cameras sensitive to near-infrared light that capture images of the eyes. These images are analyzed using advanced algorithms to create a 3D model of the eye and determine its position, detecting the pupil center and corneal reflection to calculate the gaze point. This gaze detection method is called
pupil-center corneal reflection (PCCR).

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 records raw eye tracking data at a sampling rate of up to 100 Hz, which is sufficient to study most common eye phenomena such as fixations and pupil measures. Data recorded with Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is robust and reliable. The glasses will not record any data if the eyes are closed, or the participant is blinking because no eye tracking data can be generated when there is no glint on the eyeball.  

Calibration options: 1-point manual or automatic  

Calibrating Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is seamless, offering two instant calibration options:
1-point manual or automatic. The 1-point manual calibration is performed with a calibration card, where the participant only has to look at the calibration dot in the middle of the calibration card. This calibration option ensures the highest data accuracy during the recording.  

Alternatively, Tobii Pro Glasses 3 can be automatically calibrated. This feature provides an interaction-free calibration procedure, greatly improves usability, and saves time, allowing you to start recording immediately. This option can be helpful when working with populations that are hard to calibrate, such as children, or when an immediate recording start is required.

Once calibrated, Tobii Pro Glasses 3 consistently records high-quality, reliable data essential for research and analysis. This ensures that data integrity remains uncompromised throughout your experiment, whether for minutes or hours.

Complete control over your data

When running experiments with Tobii Pro Glasses 3, you have complete control over where and how your data is processed and stored. After recording a meticulously planned experiment, storing data becomes crucial. Eye tracking data recorded with Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is safely stored locally on an SD card, kept off the cloud, and never processed remotely. All components of Tobii Pro Glasses 3, including the recording unit, connect seamlessly to an app on your chosen device and function offline.

When using Tobii Pro Lab software for eye tracking data analysis, you install it directly on your computer as a desktop application. This setup allows you to retain complete control over your eye tracking data, enabling you to clean, filter, and organize it according to your specific needs. For added convenience, Tobii Pro Lab offers predefined eye tracking metrics to streamline data extraction and facilitate statistical analysis.

During the recording: Live View and unlimited capture capabilities

A unique feature of Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is its ability to generate its own WiFi, eliminating dependence on external networks for Live View. This is particularly beneficial for those conducting experiments outside of conventional lab environments. With this setup, you can effortlessly monitor participant behavior live in the field without additional routers or connections.

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 offers unlimited recording capability when connected to a power bank, ensuring extended usage without time constraints. Additionally, the scene camera features a zoom function to enhance detailed observation of a small area.

Sturdy frame designed for robust data collection

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 are not only distinguished by their premium appearance Tobii Pro Glasses 3 are lightweight and feature Swiss optical quality, crafted using
Tobii Lens Technology to ensure scratch resistance. The glasses’ frame has a built-in microphone for capturing environmental sounds to provide context. Integrated infrared illuminators and a camera within a single lens further enhance the robustness of the recordings.

Additionally, the they are designed for scalability. They are compatible with other hardware, such as reflective markers for motion capture. The glasses can be worn under protective gear, such as helmets, and offer optional sun and dust protection accessories and eyesight correction with snap-on corrective lenses. Tobii Pro Glasses 3 also performs well in poor lighting conditions, featuring optimal exposure settings.

Software analysis solutions and open-source options

Tobii Pro Glasses 3's significant other is the behavioral research software
Tobii Pro Lab. Tobii Pro Lab offers tracking data review and a broad range of eye analysis features that can simplify researchers’ lives post-experiment. A key Tobii Pro Lab feature for wearable eye tracking users is the assisted mapping function, which helps users align eye gaze data with objects or environments for meaningful aggregated analysis.

The assisted mapping function in Tobii Pro Lab automatically maps gaze data from recordings onto snapshot images of the environment, object, or content. Combining automatic and manual data mapping is the most efficient way of analyzing wearable data to ensure accurate and reliable results. Tobii Pro Lab algorithms are transparent, and filters can be customized to different use cases/participants.

Even if eye tracking data is collected under sub-optimal conditions, your experiment is not wasted. Users can adjust and clean their eye tracking data in various ways using Tobii Pro Lab software or open-source software. Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is also compatible with numerous open-source options for recording or analyzing eye tracking data. While customers comfortable with coding can leverage these options, our software solution remains exceptionally accessible, even for beginners.

Sync port for TTL trigger for multimodal solutions

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 has a TTL trigger sync port, making it compatible with multimodal solutions. Tobii Pro Lab enables seamless synchronization and data merging of eye tracking data with EEG and biometric data from market-leading companies. Here are a few examples of brain activity and biometric data streams that are compatible with Tobii Pro Glasses 3:

• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Galvanic skin reponse (GSR)
• Blood volume pressure (BVP)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Cardiac Impedance (ICG)
• Motion capture

Besides a highly accurate TTL synchronization solution, the Glasses 3 can also be used in multimodal setups via NTP clock server synchronization, LSL connector, or the Pro API for the Glasses 3 to fully customize the multimodal recording setup.

Trusted by the experts in the field

Tobii is the leading eye tracking provider for scientific research, with roughly 41% of eye tracking publications using Tobii’s technology in 2023
(source: Tobii Annual Research Report). Wearable Tobii eye trackers were used in 342 publications in the last year. These are the research fields in which Tobii wearable eye trackers have been used the most in 2023:

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 are used and referred by esteemed researchers across various applications, such as STEM education, human-machine interaction, and sports science. Explore their impactful research in our research spotlight interview series.  

Tobii Academy will help you get started 

Tobii Academy, a hub for continuous learning, is freely accessible to all Tobii professional customers. It features an extensive library of courses and onboarding materials designed to quickly familiarize you with eye tracking technology. Here are some relevant courses for those interested in conducting experiments with wearable eye trackers:

• Foundations of eye tracking
• Manual and assisted mapping for wearable eye trackers
• Areas of interest, eye tracking’s most powerful tool

A total of 28 courses cater to customers with varying levels of expertise and can be revisited at any time.

Conclusion

Tobii Pro Glasses 3 is a high-quality wearable eye tracker offering highly accurate, precise, and reliable data. The glasses empower users with complete control over their data processing and storage. They are designed to perform well even in suboptimal conditions and maintain high performance across various environments and populations. The accompanying software for data analysis is user-friendly and streamlines the research process. With their advanced features and adaptability, Tobii Pro Glasses 3 are future-proof, ensuring they remain valuable for evolving research needs.