Apple patents eye-tracking that adjusts UI selection zones based on distance
Apple describes a system where an electronic device uses eye-tracking data to determine when a user is looking at a specific part of a screen element. The filing explains that the size of the area required to select an item can change based on how far away the user is from the device.
In the filing’s own words
A method is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors, a non-transitory memory, and a display. The method includes displaying, on the display, a first user interface (UI) element that is associated with a first selection region and a second selection region. The method includes, while displaying the first UI element, determining, based on eye tracking data, that a targeting criterion is satisfied with respect to the first selection region or the second selection region. The eye tracking data is associated with one or more eyes of a user of the electronic device. The method includes, while displaying the first UI element, selecting the first UI element based at least in part on determining that the targeting criterion is satisfied.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method comprising: at an electronic device with one or more processors, a non-transitory memory, and a display: displaying, on the display, a user interface (UI) element; determining a dimensional characteristic of a selection region of the UI element based on a depth between the UI element and the electronic device; detecting a change of the depth between the UI element and the electronic device; and changing the dimensional characteristic of the selection region based on the change of the depth.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Eye Tracking Based Selection of a User Interface (UI) Element Based on Targeting Criteria
- Publication number
- US20260329373A1
- Application number
- 19468704
- Filed
- Feb 3, 2026
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 3/013 Physics & computingG06F 3/0482 Physics & computingG06T 7/55 Physics & computingG06T 7/60 Physics & computingG06T 7/73 Physics & computingG06T 2200/24 Physics & computingMore from Apple in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.