Getting Started with iTrace Core

Basic Usage

1. Select a tracker
2. Setup a tracking session
3. Connect a plugin
4. Calibrate the selected tracker
5. Start tracking with iTrace Core
6. When the tracking session is complete stop tracking with iTrace Core
7. Finish data collection (no additional tracking sessions needed) by disconnecting the plugin

Windows Display Configuration

Before you begin using iTrace Core, you will need to ensure that the display the participant will be using is set as the Primary Display in Windows.

Selecting a Tracker

If you are using a supported Tobii tracker, iTrace Core will automatically detect the tracker if it is connected to your computer when the application is started. GazePoint Trackers must have the tracker connected to the PC and have the GazePoint Control Application running. If you have not yet connected a tracker before starting iTrace Core, you can setup your tracker and the click the refresh button to re-scan for trackers. When you have found your tracker, simply select it from the dropdown list.

Setup a Tracking Session

To setup a tracking session you can click Session Setup. This will allow you to name the task the participant will be working on (or simply record the name of the study being performed), provide the name of the researcher administering the study, record the anonymous ID of the participant, and select the output path for your data (XML files from both the Core and Plugins). When finished simply hit Save. The Clear button will empty all the data fields and restore the output directory to the default path (the Desktop).

Connecting a Plugin

By default, the Core will start a socket and web socket server for plugin communication on socket 8008 and 7007 respectively. If these sockets are not already in use on your workstation, connecting a plugin simply requires using the connect buttons provided by the plugins for Eclipse or Visual Studio 2017. If you need to change the ports, you can use the settings tab on the core to change either of the socket server ports. You will also need to change the settings to match on the plugin as well. The Core will need to be restarted to reflect the new port changes.

Calibrate a Tracker

Before starting a recording session, you should calibrate your selected tracker (the mouse tracker does not require any calibration). Simply click Calibrate to start calibration for your chosen tracker.

Start Tracking with the Core

When you are ready to collect eye tracking data from a participant, click Start Tracking to start reading data from the eye tracker and transmitting data to the plugin.

Ending a Tracking Session

When a tracking session is complete. Simply click Stop Tracking on the Core to stop the tracker and end the tracking session. Data transmission to the plugin will also cease, but the plugin will remain connected to allow for starting a new tracking session.

Finishing Data Collection

When all recording sessions are complete, ensure that iTrace Core is stopped and then disconnect the plugin. This step is VERY important as closing a tracking application without first disconnecting the plugin will produce incomplete data output from the plugin.

Other Features

• If you would like to record the screen the participant is using, you can check the Enable Screen Recording box before clicking Start Tracking. Just like with tracking, the screen recorder only captures for the display set to Primary Display in Windows.
• A window for monitoring the real-time status of the users eyes can be displayed by clicking Show Eye Status before clicking Start Tracking.
• The Core also supports displaying a real-time on screen reticle (usually for testing or demonstration purposes) which can be enabled by clicking Show Reticle before clicking Start Tracking.