Abstract
Algorithms for the estimation of gaze direction from mobile and videobased eye trackers typically involve tracking a feature of the eye that moves through the eye camera image in a way that covaries with the shifting gaze direction, such as the center or boundaries of the pupil. Tracking these features using traditional computer vision techniques can be difficult due to partial occlusion and environmental reflections. Although recent efforts to use machine learning (ML) for pupil tracking have demonstrated superior results when evaluated using standard measures of segmentation performance, little is known of how these networks may affect the quality of the final gaze estimate. This work provides an objective assessment of the impact of several contemporary ML-based methods for eye feature tracking when the subsequent gaze estimate is produced using either feature-based or model-based methods. Metrics include the accuracy and precision of the gaze estimate, as well as drop-out rate.
Publication Date
3-16-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Computer Science (MS)
Department, Program, or Center
Computer Science, Department of
College
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
Advisor
Reynold Bailey
Advisor/Committee Member
Gabriel Diaz
Advisor/Committee Member
Alexander Ororbia
Recommended Citation
Barkevich, Kevin, "Using Deep Learning to Increase Eye-Tracking Robustness, Accuracy, and Precision in Virtual Reality" (2026). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/12519
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
