Why Low Light Can Break Eye Tracking Analysis
The front camera of eye tracking glasses records video footage for subsequent or live analysis. Under low-light conditions, this footage frequently lacks sufficient contrast: the gaze point becomes difficult to localize, scene detail degrades, and reference features are no longer recognisable.
Skill assessments, incident investigations, knowledge transfer, and compliance documentation all require precise identification of gaze location within the observed scene, regardless of lighting conditions.
Dark Mode: Optimized Recording for Low Light
Dark Mode adjusts the recording settings of the VPS Next glasses for low-light conditions. Technically, it reduces the frame rate of the scene camera, extending the available exposure time; exposure itself continues to be set automatically, so image quality remains reliable under normal lighting as well. Dark Mode has no impact on the frame rate of the eye cameras, which remains consistently high.
Exposure is carefully balanced to deliver a usable image even at illuminance levels as low as 1–2 lux, while avoiding saturation from brighter surroundings or screens in the dark. As a trade-off, objects that are already well-lit, such as screens in a dark room, can appear slightly brighter while Dark Mode is active.
Dark Mode also complements hardware illumination features such as a front-facing torch. In near-total darkness, the torch alone tends to light a narrow spot, leaving the broader scene difficult to make out. Paired with Dark Mode, the recorded video captures a more complete picture of the surrounding environment.
Videos filmed with VPS Next in low light environment. On the left with normal mode, on the right with dark mode.
Where Dark Mode Makes the Difference
- Research: UX studies in simulators (e.g., cockpit or vehicle interfaces), medical research such as image interpretation studies in radiology
- Manufacturing: maintenance work in poorly lit machine areas, troubleshooting during power and lighting outages
- Defense: night operations, situational awareness assessments
- Aviation: pre-flight checks in hangars, instrument scans
- Healthcare: nighttime first-response training
- Rail: night runs, signal observation at dusk
Dark Mode in action (right vs. left): the room brightens noticeably, with already well-lit objects like the phone screen appearing slightly brighter as a side effect.
See Dark Mode in Action
Dark Mode is now a standard feature of the VPS Next. If you rely on eye tracking video for research, training, safety, or compliance and need reliable analysis from dark environments, we’d be happy to show you the difference in practice.
Got your attention?
See how eye tracking can unlock the hidden patterns in your processes—and turn expertise into your competitive advantage.
