California-based technology startup Eyefluence Inc is working on technology that will allow virtual reality and augmented reality programs to be controlled with your eyes, and the company has just emerged from stealth with $14 million in Series B funding. The funding round was led by Motorola Solutions Inc, and it also included investments by Jazz Venture Partners, NHN Ventures, Dolby Family Ventures, and others.

The purpose of the startup is to develop a hands-free method for controlling head mounted displays (HMDs) through eye movements. Specifically, Eyefluence is developing the tracking technology needed to monitor eye “gestures.”

“Eyefluence is changing the game for wearable displays,” the company says on its website. “Today’s slow and clumsy tap, swipe, nod, point, and talk methods for controlling HMDs have been holding back a market ready for phenomenal growth. The Eyefluence iUi takes eye-tracking to the next level. By delivering breakthrough ‘no wait, no wink, just look’ eye-interaction and the natural user experience that current AR, VR, and MR products lack, Eyefluence is unlocking the full potential of HMDs and ushering in a new form of human-computer interaction.”

Speaking to TechCrunch, Eyefluence CEO Jim Marggraff said, “We believe anything you can do with your finger on a smartphone, you should be able to do with your eyes on a head-mounted display — only faster.”

Eye based controls could be incredibly useful for many types of AR and VR programs, but the platform where it would seem to fit best is with mobile VR devices like Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR, which are designed to be taken anywhere. Removing the need for a physical controller would make those devices even more portable.

The technology would also seem to fit well with portable augmented reality devices like Microsoft’s HoloLens, but since that does not use a closed headset, there would be nothing stopping you from making googly eyes at other people.

Photo by Christiaan Botha