Technology Developments and Transfer

Abstract

The measurement of eye and head movement remains central to the investigation of the vestibular and oculomotor systems. This applies equally to clinical investigation and experimental studies. Around 80 years ago, the first reports of the employment of image-based techniques for oculometric measurement were published. These involved photographic and cinematographic recording of the eye for pupillometric analysis (Machemer 1933; Lowenstein and Friedman 1942). Some 25 years later, Lowenstein and Lowenfeld (1958) reported the use of mechano-optical image scanning, as adapted from classic television camera principles. This seminal report was succeeded by a number of refinements. For example, Stark and Sandberg (1961) employed electronic techniques based on the television image-scanning principle. Subsequent developments by Green and Maaseidvaag (1967) and O’Neill and Stark (1968) employed more sophisticated exploitation of vidicon imaging tubes. In the meantime a wide range of image-based video eye trackers have been developed.