Software stops training videos if employee looks away

WASHINGTON – New technology is making it more difficult to sneak in a nap during an employee training video.

Businessweek reports an online training company called Mindflash has come up with a product to help keep employees focused on a video.

FocusAssist works with an iPad’s camera to track eye movement. If those peepers are closed or have looked away (Checking Facebook? Never!) for too long, the training presentation will automatically pause. It starts again when those eyes are back on the prize.

And while Businessweek does pose the question that it’s “Big Brother-y” Donna Wells, CEO of Mindflash, says that isn’t the case. The goal behind FocusAssist is to help businesses determine content that isn’t engaging the trainees.

FocusAssist is a product for Mindflash customers and is still in Beta. Invitations to try it can be requested by emailing beta@mindflash.com.

WTOP’s David Burd contributed to this report.

Follow @DavidBurdWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

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