Can I wake my computer/tablet from stand-bye as an eyetracking user?

Depending on your settings in the Windows power options, your computer might go into stand-bye or turn off the screen to save battery. As an eyetracking user you cannot turn on the device just by using your eyes but will need the help of an assistant. When a tablet is in stand-bye or turned off, the Tobii Eyetracker has no means to control it anymore (exception: the Tobii I-Series has a build in Wake-on-Gaze solution).

 

As a work around, you can change the Windows Power Options and disable standbye or turning off of the screen:*

 

For Windows Vista or 7:

1. Go to Start and type in the search box power options and hit the enter key. Alternatively, right click the battery icon in the systray (to the right of the Windows time)
2. Choose Power Options
3. Click on Change plan settings next to the currently selected Power Plan
4. Set Turn off the display to Never
5. Set Put the computer to sleep to Never
6. Click on Save Changes

 

For Windows 8:

1. Hover mouse over the bottom right side of your computer screen to bring up the Charms bar; then click Search
2. Type power options in the search box andhit the enter key
3. Click Settings under the search field, then click Power Options in the Results panelClick Change plan settings (in the Power Options Properties window, under Select a power plan)
4. Click Change advanced power settings
5. In the Power Options window, double-click Hard disk, expand Turn off hard disk after; type in 0 (zero) or Never into the Setting (minutes) field
6. Then click OK to save your changes and return to the Change settings for the plan window

 

* Please note that changing power options can lead to a higher power consumption and potentially also a shorter screen life.