STOCKHOLM, Aug. 28, 2012 — Tobii Technology, the global leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction, today announced its selection as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. This prestigious recognition highlights the company’s groundbreaking innovations as it continues to alter the landscape of the global technology industry and shape the future of computing and human-computer interaction. The Technology Pioneers award ceremony will be held during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tainjin, China, Sept. 10-13.
“We are extremely honored to be recognized by such an esteemed and globally respected organization,” said John Elvesjö, CTO and co-founder of Tobii Technology. “Everyone at Tobii is extremely committed to leading innovation and driving the integration of eye-tracking technology into professional and consumer products to create a future where our eyes allow us to control and seamlessly interact with the technologies we depend on in our everyday lives.”
An annual selection of the most promising global technology startups, The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are chosen based on their innovation, potential impact, growth and sustainability, proof of concept, and leadership within the industries they operate, including information technology, telecommunications and new media, life sciences and health, and energy and environment. Previous Technology Pioneers include Dropbox, Kayak.com, Mint.com, Mozilla Corp. and Spotify.
“These companies are more than pioneering the way we use technology; they are transforming how we as a society are growing and interacting with each other,” said Silvia von Gunten, head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “They are also providing new opportunities for people to harness the potential of technology.”
Earlier this year Tobii was recognized by Microsoft for its development of Tobii Gaze, an eye-tracking computer interaction method for the Windows operating environment that provides users a more natural, comfortable and intuitive interaction method for computers as the company continues to pursue its vision of eye tracking-enabled consumer computing.
Tobii’s proprietary eye-tracking technologies have played a key role in revolutionizing scientific, usability and market research as well as assistive technologies for people with disabilities for more than a decade. Tobii eye trackers are used by leading universities and research organizations for behavioral, psychological and linguistic research studies and by Fortune 500 companies as means to enhance website usability and assess the effectiveness of marketing messages and in-store merchandising materials. Also, more than 8,000 people with disabilities, including those with ALS, autism, cerebral palsy, MS, Rett syndrome, spinal cord injury, stroke, or other physical or neurological challenges rely on Tobii assistive technology devices to help them communicate, gain greater independence and enhance their quality of life.
Media Contacts
Corporate contact:
Sara Hyléen, Head of PR, Tobii Technology; phone: +46 709 161 641, sara.hyleen (@) tobii.com
In the U.S.:
Kristina Messner, Focused Image, phone: +1 703 678 6023, email: kmessner (@) focusedimage.com
For media enquiries relating to the World Economic Forum:
Lucy Jay-Kennedy, Senior Media Manager, Media, phone: +1 917 209 9483; email: lucy.jaykennedy (@) weforum.org
About Tobii Technology
Tobii Technology is the global leader in eye tracking and gaze interaction technology. Tobii’s leading eye-tracking technology has transformed research in many fields, enabled communication for thousands of people with special needs and accelerated the development of gaze interaction in personal computing. Tobii delivers comprehensive, market-leading, eye-tracking technology solutions and OEM components for applications such as computers, gaming and vehicle safety systems. Founded in 2001, Tobii continues to achieve rapid annual growth and receive awards and recognition for its accomplishments. Based in Sweden, Tobii has a global presence, with offices in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan and Norway, as well as a worldwide network of resellers and partners. For more information, visit www.tobii.com.
About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. For more information, visit www.weforum.org.