EyeTech Digital Systems and Thales partner to advance eye tracking in the aircraft cabin
MESA, Ariz., 20 May 2013. EyeTech Digital Systems provided eye tracking hardware, software, and engineering integration support for Thales In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity’s touch-free entertainment system, which won the 2013 Crystal Cabin Award for Passenger Comfort Systems.
The Thales in-flight entertainment company won a coveted Crystal Cabin Award for its "Eye Tracking and Gesture Control" system, which enables passengers to control the entertainment system using eye movements and hand gestures. The combination of eye tracking and control technologies in seat-back entertainment systems is very user friendly, eliminating the need to continually look down at a remote control.
"We have chosen EyeTech Digital Systems as our Eye Tracking Development Partner for their expertise and advanced engineering skills in developing the next generation of custom eye tracking system that meets our requirements and exceeds our expectations," explains Brett Bleacher, director of Innovations/R&D at Thales.
"Eye tracking is a great solution for the seat configurations found in premium, first, and business class aircraft, whereby the passenger cannot reach the display touchscreen in front of them as it is too far away," Bleacher adds.
EyeTech's engineering team has provided Thales with advanced technical support and continues to work with Thales in bringing eye tracking systems to the air. Eye
The Crystal Cabin Award is the only international prize for innovations in aircraft cabin design. Seven awards were presented in 2013.
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Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
