RUDN University improves eye tracking technology in VR systems
Foveated rendering is a basic technology of VR systems. When a person looks at something, their gaze is focused on the so-called foveated region, and everything else is covered by peripheral vision. Therefore, a computer has to render the images in the foveated region with the highest degree of detail, while other parts require less computational powers. This approach helps improve computational performance and eliminates issues caused by the gap between the limited capabilities of graphic processors and increasing display resolution. However, foveated rendering technology is limited in speed and accuracy of the next gaze fixation point prediction because the movement of a human eye is a complex and largely random process. To solve this issue, a team of researchers from MSU together with a professor from RUDN University developed a mathematical modeling method that helps calculate next gaze fixation points in advance.
"One of the issues with foveated rendering is timely prediction of the next gaze fixation point because vision is a complex stochastic process. We suggested a mathematical model that predicts gaze fixation point changes," said Prof. Viktor Belyaev, a Ph.D. in Technical Sciences from the Department of Mechanics and Mechatronics of RUDN University.
The predictions of the model are based on the study of the so-called saccadic movements, fast and rhythmic movements of the eye. They accompany the shifts of our gaze from one object to another and can suggest the next fixation point. The ratio between the length, range, and maximum speed of saccadic eye movements is determined by certain empirical regularities. However, these models cannot be used by eye trackers to predict eye movements because they are not accurate enough. Therefore, the researchers focused on a mathematical model that helped them obtain saccadic movement parameters. After that, this data was used to calculate the foveated region of an image.
The method was tested experimentally using a VR helmet and AR glasses. The eye tracker based on the mathematical model was able to detect minor eye movements (3.4 minutes, which is equal to 0.05 degrees), and the inaccuracy amounted to 6.7 minutes (0.11 degrees). Moreover, the team managed to eliminate the calculation error caused by blinking: a filter included in the model reduced the inaccuracy 10 times. The results of the work could be used in VR modeling, video games, and in medicine for surgeries and vision disorders diagnostics.
"We have effectively solved the issue with the foveated rendering technology that existed in the mass production of VR systems. In the future, we plan to calibrate our eye tracker to reduce the impact of display or helmet movements against a user's head," added Prof. Viktor Belyaev from RUDN University.
The results of the study were published in the SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers.
RUDN summarized the results of the scientific competition "Project Start: work of the science club ". Students of the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences have created a project for a managed queuing system using a neural network to redistribute resources between 5G segments. How to increase flexibility, make the network fast and inexpensive and reach more users — tell Gebrial Ibram Esam Zekri ("Fundamental Computer Science and Information Technology", Master's degree, II course) and Ksenia Leontieva ("Applied Mathematics and Computer Science", Master's degree, I course).
The National Demographic Report, 2023 Demographic Well-Being of Russian Regions (hereinafter - the National Demographic Report) was prepared by the scientific team of the Institute of Demographic Studies of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Vologda Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the Center for Family and Demography of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as with the participation of leading scientists from the Republic of Bashkortostan, Stavropol Krai, Volgograd, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk Oblasts and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra.
RUDN summarized the results of the scientific competition "Project Start: work of the science club ". Students of the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences have created a project for a managed queuing system using a neural network to redistribute resources between 5G segments. How to increase flexibility, make the network fast and inexpensive and reach more users — tell Gebrial Ibram Esam Zekri ("Fundamental Computer Science and Information Technology", Master's degree, II course) and Ksenia Leontieva ("Applied Mathematics and Computer Science", Master's degree, I course).
What is your first association with the word “laboratory”? Flasks and beakers? Microscopes and centrifuges? Yes, many of us would answer the same way.
The National Demographic Report, 2023 Demographic Well-Being of Russian Regions (hereinafter - the National Demographic Report) was prepared by the scientific team of the Institute of Demographic Studies of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Vologda Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, the Center for Family and Demography of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as with the participation of leading scientists from the Republic of Bashkortostan, Stavropol Krai, Volgograd, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk Oblasts and Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra.