eyeLAH

eyeLAH is a modular, open-source framework and platform designed to enable gaze-driven interactive media and research. The name blends “eye” with a stylized “LAH” to evoke immediacy and lightness. Conceived by a collaborative team of developers, artists, and researchers, eyeLAH emerged in the early 2020s as a tool for human–computer interaction studies and as a medium for generative art.

Architecture and how it works: eyeLAH provides three layers: a gaze-tracking engine, an input translator, and a scene generator. The gaze-tracking engine supports standard webcams and infrared eye trackers, performing calibration, blink suppression, and fixation mapping to a normalized coordinate space. The input translator converts gaze data into discrete or continuous control signals, including dwell-based selections and smooth gaze trajectories. The scene generator offers a plugin-based environment where artists and developers craft visuals, soundscapes, and haptic cues in response to inputs. The framework emphasizes cross-platform compatibility and can export to desktop, web, or embedded hardware. The project is released under an open-source license.

Applications: eyeLAH has been used in gallery installations, educational workshops, and accessibility tools for users with limited motor control. Researchers employ it to study gaze-driven interaction, attention, and embodiment in media contexts.

Reception and considerations: Because gaze data can be sensitive, the project includes privacy-focused features such as on-device processing, opt-in data collection, and anonymization options. Reviews have praised eyeLAH for openness and community contributions, while noting limitations related to hardware requirements, lighting conditions, and calibration variability. See also: gaze tracking, human–computer interaction, generative art.