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Google Glass code reveals “eye gestures,” snaps pictures by winking

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Some underlying code found hiding inside the Google’s “MyGlass” application is revealing some new clues on some new ways users will interact with Glass (once it’s finally made available to the public). Using eye-motion tracking, it appears that Google Glass might be able to tell when a user is winking (as opposed to just blinking), signaling the device to snap a picture with Glass’ integrated 5MP camera.

Discovered by a user on Reddit, the code strings “EYE_GESTURES_WINK_ENABLED,” “EYE_GESTURES_WINK_CALIBRATION_SUCCESS,” and “EYE_GESTURES_WINK_TAKE_PHOTO” suggest that eye gestures will be just one of the many ways users will be able to interact with their Glass you know, besides the old-school way of touching or speaking to it.

None of this really sounds too far fetched to us. Back at CES 2013, we were able to test out some new eye-tracking tech from a company called Tobii, even going as far as to speculate the possibilities of seeing something similar in Google Glass. Let’s not forget that Google was recently awarded a patent for interacting with a device using eye-tracking and although that dealt specifically with unlocking a device by looking at it, it’s easy to see Google definitely been toying around with the idea.

It’ll be interesting to see how these eye-gestures perform in everyday use. Other than spy pics, can anyone think of a useful reason why you’d want to snap a sneaky picture like this? Aside from submitting to PeopleofWalmart.com, my mind is drawing a blank.

Chris Chavez
I've been obsessed with consumer technology for about as long as I can remember, be it video games, photography, or mobile devices. If you can plug it in, I have to own it. Preparing for the day when Android finally becomes self-aware and I get to welcome our new robot overlords.

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20 Comments

  1. Proving even more definitively the joy of properly descriptive variable naming.

    1. Which brings me to the head gestures above the eye-gestures.
      Are those implemented already?
      I haven’t read anything about head gestures yet.
      Shake sideways to deny/cancel/close the current application/pop-up window
      And up and down to accept/open?

      1. Just from what I can see in this photo I believe they have implemented the HEAD_WAKE gesture. In a youtube video someone was walking through the settings menu and there was an option to turn “head tilt to wake” on or off. Other head gestures would be cool though, not heard anything about those yet.

        1. How about the ‘alert emergency services’ gesture (violently shaking your head as if having a seizure) or ‘notify police’ gesture when it finds you staring at someone (the someone is found through the camera) who is not in your contacts lists (facial recognition) and then engages stalker mode (alert police, send your location and notify parents of estimated jailtime)

  2. My question is, how does Glass know you’re winking? It’s not like there’s a eye facing camera on the device, come on people…..

    1. It seems as though when you blink the bottom eyelid moves up (more than your top eye lid moves down). When you blink that doesn’t happen. I’m guessing that’s one possibility

      1. But there would have to be a sensor pointing at the eye, in order to know what the eye is doing. And as far as I know, there is no sensor/camera facing the eye.

        1. of course there is somewhere a sensor..how can you detect movement..?by magic? come on

          1. That’s my whole point dude, have you not read my comment? I want to know what kind of sensor. Proximity sensor? IR sensor? camera? I want confirmation of what is being used to control the alleged wink shutter

    2. they’ve already confirmed other eye gestures to be incorporated, so im not sure how there cant be some sort of sensor.

      1. I just want some sort of confirmation of a sensor, besides just some rumor article.

  3. No wonder the mascot for phandroid has been winking for so long. He’s been waiting for a pair of Google Glass to be on his face

    1. We gotta outfit him with some Glass! :D

  4. Will we have to submit to implants? Sounds like if you are taking a morning constitutional it might mistake that as a photo op. Wink, wink.

    1. More fiber. That is all.

      1. Google Fiber?

        1. I have no doubt that would help as well.

  5. Wow! Now this is innovation, and future of things to come. I’m sure they figured out the blinking thing. Google will assimilate you!

  6. Geez, google. That won’t look creepy at all…

  7. So taking creeper pictures of girls by winking at them is officially the most perverted thing you can do.

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