Honor launches AI eye-tracking feature that allows you to easily control your smartphone by looking at the screen
- The ‘Magic Capsule’ technology will be available ‘soon’ on its new Magic 6 Pro
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Smartphone users could soon use their eyes instead of their fingers to operate the device.
A new AI eye-tracking feature unveiled by Chinese phone giant Honor can detect exactly where you’re looking on the screen.
The phone can distinguish between a quick glance and an intentional glance and then performs the action without you having to touch it.
The company has revealed that the technology – called ‘Magic Capsule’ – will be available on its new Magic 6 Pro ‘soon’.
As tech companies increasingly look for new ways for users to control their devices, from voice commands to hand gestures, Honor claims to be the first to do this with people’s eyes.
The new AI eye-tracking feature, unveiled by Chinese phone giant Honor, can detect exactly where you are looking on the screen. A visitor tries out the new Honor Magic 6 Pro at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona
MagicOS is an Android-derived mobile operating system developed by Chinese technology company Honor
Eye-tracking technology works by monitoring where the user looks through the device’s camera.
It has been used for several years in industries such as market research and advertising to determine exactly how best to engage users.
But there have been major barriers to their use outside controlled environments so far, most notably the complexity of the AI required.
However, Honor says its new Magic Capsule technology can not only track the user’s gaze but also “identify intent.”
Users must first calibrate their gaze, similar to setting their fingerprint, by staring at different points on the screen.
Once set up, the AI can detect where the person is looking, from a distance of 20 to 50 cm.
To show ‘intent’, the user must continue to look at the spot for 1.8 seconds.
In a demo at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company showed how users can answer or reject a call, open text messages or turn off a timer with a quick glance at the screen.
Eye-tracking technology works by monitoring where the user looks through the device’s camera
Demonstrating the possibilities that eye-tracking on smartphones could bring in the future, Honor said it will be possible to drive a car hands-free via the Magic6 Pro’s AI-powered eye-tracking system.
Industry expert Paolo Pescatore said: ‘It’s good to see this technology being followed in other categories such as smartphones. For now, it feels a bit gimmicky as a means to grab eyeballs.
‘All Asian suppliers are frantically trying to differentiate their devices from competitors with standout features.
‘The cleverly designed feature should ensure that it stands out in a busy market. It will also help attract people to the brand who are loyal to other premium players such as Apple and Samsung.
‘This is an area where a lot of innovation will take place to improve the user experience through gestures, eyes and movement!’
