Eye tracking apparatuses configured for degrading iris authentication

A method of tracking a pupil of an eye of a user, the method comprising:

• capturing, using a camera, an eye image of at least one eye of a user;
• defocusing, using an image processor, the eye image in order to generate a defocused eye image, wherein the defocused eye image comprises reduced iris authentication accuracy;
• detecting, using a tracking processor, a pupil in the defocused eye image;
• and
• determining, using a tracking processor, a gaze direction of the user based on the defocused eye image.

An eye tracking device configured for tracking a pupil of an eye, the eye tracking device comprising:

• a movable camera adapted to capture an eye image of at least one eye of a user, the movable camera being adjustable between an in-focus position and a defocused position;
• and
• a tracking processor configured for executing instructions stored in a local memory of the eye tracking device, the instructions configuring the tracking processor to:
• detect the pupil in the eye image;
• and
• determine a gaze direction of the user based on the eye image;
• wherein, when the movable camera is in the in-focus position, authentication of an iris in the eye image is enabled;
• and
• wherein, when the movable camera is in the defocused position, authentication of the iris in the eye image is disabled.