Open Iris - An Open Source Framework for Video-Based Eye-Tracking Research and Development

Abstract

Eye tracking is an essential research tool in many fields, yet existing solutions often face cost and flexibility limitations for customized applications. We present OpenIris, a user-friendly and adaptable open-source framework developed in C# for video-based eye-tracking. It is designed for diverse research applications capable of tracking eye movements in three dimensions, including torsional eye movements. Its modular design allows easy customization for different hardware systems, tracking, and calibration pipelines. It can be remotely controlled from other devices or programs and can record eye movements online from cameras or post-process recorded videos. Currently implemented binocular pupil tracking pipelines can achieve frame rates of more than 500Hz when running on standard computer workstations. With OpenIris framework, we aim to fill a gap in the research tools available for high precision and high-speed eye tracking, especially in environments that require custom solutions that are not currently well-served by commercial eye trackers.