Eye tracking performance may differ according to both device type and participant characteristics, including iris color and skin type, according to a study.
In this crossover study, 40 healthy participants completed identical tasks using a head-mounted tracker (HMT; Pupil Labs Core) and a screen-mounted tracker (SMT; Tobii Eye Tracker 4 C), with stimuli presented at different screen positions. Performance was assessed according to iris color, palpebral aperture, and skin type.
The SMT performed significantly better among participants with non-brown irises and lighter skin types, while the HMT performed better among those with brown irises and darker skin types. Overall, the HMT produced a higher mean percentage of valid data but had lower accuracy and precision.
Both devices demonstrated similar gaze errors, but only the SMT achieved acceptable precision based on test-retest reliability.
The researchers said the findings underscore the need for further investigation into how participant characteristics and eye-tracker design may affect performance and equitable use across diverse populations.
Reference
Cade A, Zoest J, Kameyama M, et al. Head vs Screen-Mounted Eye Trackers: Comparisons Across Ethnic Diversity. Curr Eye Res. 2026;doi: 10.1080/02713683.2026.2727290. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42708428.
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