Fove
{{Short description|Japanese virtual reality company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = FOVE Inc.
| logo =
| type = Private
| industry = Virtual reality, Eye tracking
| founded = {{Start date and age|2014|05}}
| founders = Yuka Kojima, Lochlainn Wilson
| location = Tokyo, Japan
| key_people = Shintaro Karaki (CEO)
| products = FOVE 0, FOVE VR Platform
| website = {{URL|https://fove-inc.com/}}
}}
FOVE Inc. is a Japanese technology company that develops virtual reality (VR) headsets equipped with eye-tracking capabilities. By integrating eye-tracking technology into VR, FOVE enables more immersive experiences and applications across various fields, including healthcare, education, and research. The company's hardware and software solutions are utilized by medical institutions and academic organizations both in Japan and internationally.
Overview
FOVE specializes in the development of head-mounted displays (HMDs) with integrated infrared-based binocular eye-tracking systems. These devices capture real-time eye movement and gaze data, allowing for the analysis of attention, cognition, and visual behavior. The eye-tracking system provides sub-degree accuracy and low-latency performance, making it suitable for precise cognitive assessments and research applications.
Name origin
The company's name, "FOVE", is derived from the Latin word fovea, referring to the fovea centralis, a small pit in the retina where visual acuity is highest. This reflects the company's focus on technologies related to the human eye and visual perception.
History
FOVE Inc. was founded in May 2014 by Yuka Kojima and Lochlainn Wilson in Tokyo, Japan. The company began developing a VR headset with integrated eye-tracking technology. In May 2015, FOVE's headset was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's first eye-tracking virtual reality headset.{{Cite web |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/518784-first-eye-tracking-virtual-reality-vr-headset |title=First eye tracking virtual reality (VR) headset |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=2025-04-24}}
In November 2016, FOVE began shipping its first product, the "FOVE 0", targeting developers and researchers.{{Cite news |last=Coldewey |first=Devin |date=2016-11-02 |title=FOVE’s eye-tracking VR headset goes up for pre-order |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/02/fove-vr-eye-tracking-preorder/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2025-04-24}}
In February 2021, Shintaro Karaki was appointed as CEO.
In December 2022, FOVE entered into a capital and business alliance with Towa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., launching cognitive function assessment services using VR-based eye tracking.
Products
= FOVE 0 =
The FOVE 0 is the company's first commercial VR headset, released in November 2016. It was the first VR device to incorporate real-time eye-tracking technology, allowing for gaze-based interaction and analytics. The headset features a 2560×1440 resolution display, a field of view of approximately 100 degrees, and support for six degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking.{{Cite news |last=Coldewey |first=Devin |date=2016-11-02 |title=FOVE’s eye-tracking VR headset goes up for pre-order |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/02/fove-vr-eye-tracking-preorder/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2025-04-24}}
= FOVE VR Platform =
The FOVE VR Platform is a software environment required to run VR applications on the FOVE 0 headset. It supports both free and paid plans, which differ in the level of access to eye movement data and analytics. The platform enables developers to obtain detailed eye-tracking data including gaze coordinates, blink events, and pupil diameter.{{Cite web |url=https://fove-inc.com/product/ |title=FOVE Product Overview |website=FOVE Inc. |access-date=2025-04-24}}
Technology
= Eye Tracking =
FOVE's VR headsets use infrared-based binocular eye tracking to monitor gaze direction, fixation points, blinks, and pupil dilation. The system provides sub-degree accuracy and low latency, suitable for clinical and research use. Real-time and exportable data enables detailed gaze behavior analysis.
= Head Tracking =
The FOVE 0 supports six degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and external tracking camera.
= Software Development Kit (SDK) =
FOVE provides a proprietary SDK compatible with Unity and Unreal Engine. It supports real-time eye tracking access, gaze interaction control, heatmap generation, and calibration diagnostics. The SDK is available for Windows.
Applications
= Healthcare =
FOVE's systems are used for early screening of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), concussion assessment, visual rehabilitation, and evaluation of neurological and ophthalmological conditions. Several hospitals and clinics in Japan have adopted FOVE systems.{{Cite news |last=Matney |first=Lucas |date=2016-07-28 |title=Fove shows off a new build of its eye-tracking VR headset |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/28/fove-shows-off-a-new-build-of-its-eye-tracking-vr-headset/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2025-04-24}}
= Education =
FOVE is used in special education to analyze student attention and engagement. It is also applied in VR-based training simulations.
= Research =
Academic institutions use FOVE in psychology, neuroscience, and HCI research to analyze gaze patterns and cognitive processes.{{Cite web |url=https://fove-inc.com/reference/ |title=Research Case Studies |website=FOVE Inc. |access-date=2025-04-24}}
Installations and Collaborations
FOVE has been deployed at:
- Kyushu University Hospital – cognitive function research
- Saga University – gaze-based cognitive screening research
- University of Tokyo – interdisciplinary VR studies
- Kanazawa University – attention and visual behavior analysis
FOVE has also partnered with pharmaceutical companies and clinics to provide screening tools for health checkups and community healthcare.{{Cite web |url=https://cog-selfcheck.jp/list/ |title=List of FOVE installation sites |website=Cognitive Function Self-Checker |language=ja |access-date=2025-04-24}}
External links
- [https://fove-inc.com/ Official website]