VSS 2022 – May 13-18
St. Pete Beach, Florida

VSS 2023 – May 19-24
St. Pete Beach, Florida

Saturday, May 22, 2021, 12:00 – 12:30 PM EDT
Monday, May 24, 2021, 9:00 – 9:30 AM EDT

Organizer: Chase Anderson
Speaker: Chase Anderson, Eyeware

Until recently, eye tracking research has been limited due to intrusive headgear or expensive sensors. This has restricted the ability of vision researchers to conduct studies at scale and within their budgets.

During this event, we’ll discuss how Eyeware has overcome these challenges with GazeSense. This software uses consumer-grade 3D cameras to offer robust eye tracking data which can be exposed live via an API or in CSV format for later analysis. By using depth & RGB information, Gazesense can maintain reliable tracking better than traditional 2D trackers over extended periods of time.

We will also be introducing Beam, which enables an iPhone to be used as an eye tracking device. Beam takes advantage of the True Depth, user-facing cameras on any iPhone with Face ID. This new development allows vision researchers to run eye tracking experiments remotely, at scale, and provides access to the data.

To learn more about our mission, visit Eyeware.tech or contact us at .

We hope to see you at the satellite event!

Monday, May 24, 2021, 4:15 – 6:15 PM EDT
Wednesday, May 26, 2021, 8:30 – 10:30 AM EDT

Organizer: Dirk Bernhardt-Walther, University of Toronto
Speakers: Jessica Witt, Colorado State University; Benjamin Balas, North Dakota State University; Michelle Greene, Bates College; Michael Cohen, Amherst College; Dirk Bernhardt-Walther, University of Toronto

The Covid-19 pandemic has catapulted instructors at universities and colleges into a new reality of online teaching. They had to rapidly adapt and innovate to adjust their proven classroom-based courses to the new reality of physically distant learning, with challenges to material delivery, student engagement, and student assessment. In this Satellite Event we will provide a forum for instructors teaching vision-related courses to exchange ideas, best practices, and materials. We will offer advice by experienced instructors on practical demonstrations that can be performed by students at home, student engagement in an online setting, open pedagogies in the online/hybrid realm, as well as incorporating online laboratory work in teaching vision-related courses. We will discuss ideas for bridging the gap between demonstrations and structured observations and the use of quantitative models for problem-solving in vision science courses. We invite the VSS community to participate in an open panel discussion to share their own experiences with teaching during the pandemic.

Saturday, May 22, 2021, 9:15 – 10:15 AM EDT

Organizer: Dr. Sam Hutton, SR Research Ltd
Speaker: Dr. Sam Hutton, SR Research Ltd

Understanding the key determinants of eye tracking data quality is critical for researchers who want to maximize their ability to detect significant effects in gaze metrics and generate and report high quality, replicable data. However, the topic is something of a terminological minefield, with concepts such as “noise” and “resolution” being used to mean different things by different researchers and manufacturers. In this Satellite Event, SR Research staff will discuss the key determinants of eye tracking data quality, and provide clear instructions for how critical data quality metrics such as accuracy and precision can be derived from EyeLink data. The workshop will also describe a range of tips and tricks that attendees can use to ensure they maximize data quality in their own EyeLink systems – from optimizing camera and participant set-up, to choosing the most appropriate calibration model. The overall aim of the event is to provide EyeLink users with the tools they need to measure and report eye tracking data quality, and to help them ensure that they are using their equipment optimally.

The following SR Research Webinar contains some useful background information: How EyeLinks Work.

For a list of other webinars and many other useful learning resources, please visit the SR Research Support Forum or the Learning Resources page on our website.

Friday, May 21, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 PM EDT

Organizers: Charisse Pickron, University of Minnesota; Alejandro Lleras, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Mentoring Envisioned project is being developed by the members of FoVea, Visibility, and SPARK, to facilitate networking and mentoring opportunities for all members of the VSS community. The first half of the event will feature a panel discussion on mentoring (sponsored by FoVea) and the second half will include small group discussions of our newly launched Mentoring Envisioned SLACK channel, which will be open to all VSS members who are interested in building community and further developing connections both through affinity groups and through scientific interests.  We hope the SLACK channel and mentoring event will foster new connections that will help participants, especially those new to VSS, navigate the meeting, network, and will provide strong social support for members of underrepresented groups in the society.

Monday, May 24, 2021, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Organizers: Alex White, Barnard College; Michael Grubb, Trinity College

LGBTQ students are disproportionately likely to drop out of science early. Potential causes include the lack of visible role models and the absence of a strong community. This virtual gathering is one small step towards filling that gap. We will form a network of support and discuss continuing challenges for queer scientists and for gay rights generally (e.g., LGBT people are not protected against employment discrimination in the majority of the United States, an issue currently before the US Congress). This year we will have a special guest speaker who is very active in promoting the interests of LGBTQ+ scientists nationally. All are welcome.