Essex EyeWarn study uses AI supercomputer to explore eye fatigue and cognition
Essex researchers deploy a government-backed AI supercomputer to study eye movements and fatigue in real-world settings, uncovering how cognition shapes behavior across daily tasks.
A pioneering study at the University of Essex is harnessing Isambard-AI, one of the UK's most powerful AI systems, to investigate how fatigue and lapses in attention show up in the eye. The EyeWarn project aims to turn everyday eye movements into signals about cognitive load.
Researchers will run EyeWarn on the Isambard-AI platform for about 10,000 hours, enabling large-scale models that fuse data from people with their surroundings. The goal is to gain a detailed understanding of how the eye responds to thinking and fatigue, even in real world settings.
According to project lead Dr Javier Andreu-Perez, the approach could reveal new patterns in human behavior and cognitive strain. He notes that the study will help quickly assess fatigue levels and provide fresh insights into how mental effort affects eye behavior.
Essex aims to be at the forefront of AI innovation with a forthcoming 2 billion pound data centre in Loughton, part of a national push to expand AI infrastructure. The EyeWarn project brings together researchers from across the UK and the Solvemed Group, seeking to translate lab insights into real-world monitoring.
Dr Andreu-Perez, a computer science lecturer, says EyeWarn marks a major step in the United Kingdoms pursuit of human-centered artificial intelligence. The project focuses on linking fatigue and ocular signals to better understand how cognitive load manifests in everyday tasks.
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Key Takeaways
- Large-scale use of the Isambard-AI supercomputer for the EyeWarn study, with about 10,000 hours of analysis.
- The research aims to map eye movements to fatigue and cognitive load in real-world settings.
- Collaboration includes the Solvemed Group and researchers nationwide to bring lab insights into practice.
- The project highlights UK leadership in human-centered AI and real-time behaviour monitoring.
- Essex positions itself within a broader AI infrastructure push, including a new data centre in Loughton.
Expert comment: An AI researcher not affiliated with the project notes that this approach could transform real-time monitoring of human factors and decision-making. The combination of eye tracking with a powerful AI platform may accelerate actionable insights.
Summary
The EyeWarn study at the University of Essex uses Isambard-AI to analyze eye movements in natural settings to understand fatigue and cognitive load. The collaboration with Solvemed and national researchers aims to translate findings into practical indicators of mental strain. Essex emphasizes human-centered AI as a key path for future science and innovation.
Key insight: Eye behavior reflects cognitive state, and powerful AI can turn daily eye movements into indicators of fatigue and mental strain. Source: BBC News