US Patent 10129510 Initiating human-machine interaction based on visual attention

A device for interacting with a user is presented. The device includes a target area, a sensor coupled to the target area, wherein the sensor detects whether a human is present in a predefined proximity region and detects a direction of visual attention given by the human in the predefined proximity region, a processor coupled to the sensor and making a determination that the user's visual attention is in a direction of the target area for a minimum visual contact period, and an input engine that is activated based on the determination.