Apple Inc. has acquired SensoMotoric Instruments GmbH, a German firm that develops computer vision technology and eye tracking systems for research and industry.

The acquisition of SMI was first reported Monday by MacRumors and confirmed by a traditional “non-confirmation” from Apple received by Axios. Founded way back in 1991, SMI delivers eye tracking solutions for business, researchers and professionals serving sectors including virtual and augmented reality, usability and human factors, neurosciences, psychology, physical and cognitive training, clinical research and market research.

The company’s technology can record and track a wearer’s gaze in real-time at 120 times per second, reducing lag and hence motion sickness. The quicker tracking of eye movements means there is no shift in perspective between with physical movement of the user and what he or she actually sees.

If that sounds a bit technical, it all relates to eye tracking in VR and AR headsets, something Apple has been working on since at least 2014. A more recent report in March suggested that the house that Steve Jobs built is getting ready to make a big bet on augmented reality, either through the iPhone or with a dedicated headset.

The rumor, though not the hardware itself, was essentially confirmed on June 5 when Apple announced a dedicated iOS “ARKit” for the creation of AR applications. Apple has also had an ongoing interest in acquisitions in the space, having acquired AR software plugin SoftBox only last week.

Not much is known about SMI other than what it makes, that it’s old for a tech company and that along with a head office in Berlin it has a U.S. office in Boston. It’s privately owned, but the lack of information on its fundraising or its revenue base makes it impossible even to speculate on the acquisition price.

Photo: SMI