Nintendo Patents 3D Eye Tracking on 2D Display

Could Nintendo be expanding their 3D technology? A new patent has emerged for viewing 3D pictures on a 2D display.

Filed on 5th March, the patent covers "Eye Tracking Enabling 3D Viewing on Conventional 2D Display", by "tracking a person's viewpoint". In doing so, it can "change the viewing of the displayed object giving the illusion that the object is physically present in three-dimensional space".

Some practical examples could "provide collision-related game logic benefits such as allowing a player to dodge projectiles, giving a game character an ability to 'see' the player when not behind line-of-sight obstacles, and other advantages," reads the abstract.

The technology would involve a marker mounted on a player's head and a "Visible Light Band Camera" that could "determine location of the head and extrapolate the position of the eyes." Further example also include "virtual wind" or temperature aspects, like "blowing cool air on your face." The technology could potentially be used to "detect Emotions via monitoring mental state."

Do you think Nintendo will venture into wearable 3D technology?