Using iTrace with SmartEye Pro

iTrace core can use gaze data from a SmartEye eye tracking setup. iTrace will use the pixel coordinates of gaze-screen intersections as reported by SmartEye, as configured by the SmartEye world model. iTrace will also save the world model, and calibration error vectors in the output XML file. To use SmartEye with iTrace, configure as follows:

Ensure iTrace and SmartEye will be running on the same computer, or are connected on the same network. Set the IP address of the computer running SmartEye in the iTrace settings tab. If both programs are running on the same computer, use the address 127.0.0.1

Start the SmartEye software and ensure a SmartEye world model (.sew file) is loaded. SmartEye will remember this selection, so it only needs to be done when selecting a model for the first time, or when changing to a different model.

iTrace does not support all world model objects. Only intersections with Screen objects will be registered, and Screens may not be nested within a LocalCS. The world model must contain a screen with a resolution defined in pixels. Using a resolution of (1,1) to produce a normalized output is not allowed, because iTrace processes gaze positions as an integer number of pixels.

See Chapter 7 of the SmartEye Manual for a full description of world model objects.

Perform a Gaze Calibration in SmartEye. This must be done every time SmartEye is launched. This calibration information as well as the world model will be sent to iTrace at the moment SmartEye is selected as the desired tracker. To avoid using incorrect calibration data, iTrace should only be started after gaze calibration is performed.

Launch iTrace. SmartEye will appear in the tracker selection drop down menu along with the software version (f.e. "SmartEye Pro 9.1"). If iTrace was not able to connect to SmartEye, a message will be printed in the console indicating the reason. Clicking the Start/Stop Tracking button in iTrace will send the corresponding command to SmartEye.

Perform eye tracking. When finished with a session, click Stop Tracking. SmartEye will automatically be paused until Start Tracking is clicked again.