Sweden’s Tobii Technology supports UOIT’s Game Development Program

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN and OSHAWA, ONTARIO -- Tobii Technology, the global leader in eye tracking, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that they will collaborate to provide students with Tobii EyeX eye trackers to support the university’s Game Development and Entrepreneurship undergraduate program.

This collaboration is part of Tobii’s Game Developer Program for university students, designed to support students in game development at universities around the world. Tobii provides industry-leading eye-tracking hardware, software development kits and support for students associated with the program. Students enrolling in the game development courses at UOIT will use Tobii’s latest eye-tracking peripheral, Tobii EyeX, as they work on their semester-long projects integrating eye tracking and gaming.

“We are proud to say that Canada has the third largest video game industry in the world — and we have achieved this status by continuing to provide the next generation of developers with the latest technology,” said Dr. Pamela Ritchie, Dean, Faculty of Business and Information Technology, UOIT. “Our collaboration with Tobii will give our students the opportunity to explore the unlimited applications of eye tracking and will empower them to create the future of gaming with completely new ways for users to interact with and get immersed in games. Getting a hands-on, and eyes-on, experience with eye tracking gives our students a tremendous advantage that we expect will resonate throughout our industry as these students move on to become the next technology and entrepreneurial leaders.”

Work throughout the semester will culminate in the UOIT LevelUp showcase, the largest student showcase of video games in Canada. With more than 2,000 participants, this event recognizes the most talented students in design, animation and computer science programs from more than 15 universities and colleges across Ontario.

“Eye tracking has the potential to impact and enhance a wide variety of industries — but gaming in particular can benefit so greatly from eye tracking because it can offer such an efficient and natural way to enhance interaction, navigation and communication and opens the doors for a whole new paradigm for social and immersive experiences,” said Carl Korobkin, Vice-President of OEM solutions for Tobii. “UOIT recognizes the importance and potential of eye tracking, and we are delighted to welcome them to the program and share our latest peripherals and development kits with this next generation of developers. These students are shaping the future of gaming, innovation and entrepreneurship, and Tobii is proud to be a part of that important mission.”

Universities and game labs that would like to enrol in Tobii’s developer program for university students can read more and contact Tobii through the company’s website.

Tobii also offers broader academic programs at universities for academic research in labs and classrooms.

About Tobii Technology

Tobii Technology is the global leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction. Tobii delivers comprehensive, market-leading gaze solutions and OEM eye-tracking components for applications such as computers, gaming and vehicles. Tobii’s eye-tracking technology has accelerated the development of gaze interaction in personal computing, transformed research in many fields and enabled communication for thousands of people with special needs. Founded in 2001, Tobii continues to achieve rapid annual growth and receive awards and recognition for its accomplishments. Based in Sweden, Tobii has a global presence, with offices in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan and Norway, as well as a worldwide network of resellers and partners. For more information, visit tobii.com.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.