etformat 1.3.0: Major Release Now Available

I’m thrilled to announce the release of etformat 1.3.0—a major update to the Python package for processing, converting, and analyzing EyeLink eye-tracker data. This version brings significant enhancements and new capabilities for researchers and engineers working with eye-tracking data.

What’s New in 1.3.0?

This major release includes substantial improvements to:

  • Enhanced Data Processing: Improved performance and accuracy in EDF file parsing and data extraction
  • Advanced Fixation & Saccade Detection: Better algorithms for identifying and analyzing eye-movement events
  • Extended Export Formats: Support for additional output formats to integrate seamlessly with modern data science workflows
  • Improved Visualization Tools: More customizable and publication-ready plotting capabilities
  • Better Error Handling: More informative error messages and robust data validation
  • API Enhancements: Refined interfaces for easier integration into research pipelines

About etformat

etformat is a comprehensive Python package designed for researchers, neuroscientists, and usability engineers working with eye-tracking data from EyeLink systems. It simplifies the extraction, conversion, and analysis of EDF (EyeLink Data Format) files—the standard format produced by SR Research EyeLink eye-trackers.

Key Capabilities

  • EDF to CSV Conversion: Export eye-tracking data to industry-standard CSV format
  • Fixation & Saccade Analysis: Automatically detect and analyze eye-movement events
  • Calibration Validation: Verify calibration quality with built-in validation routines
  • Data Visualization: Generate publication-ready plots of gaze movements
  • Flexible Export Options: Multiple output formats for downstream analysis

Installation

Install the latest version with a single command:

pip install etformat

Upgrade from an earlier version:

pip install --upgrade etformat

System Requirements

  • Python >= 3.6
  • EyeLink Developers Kit (specifically the edfapi library from SR Research)

Important: The edfapi library must be installed separately after registering on the SR Research support site. Set the EDFAPI_LIB environment variable if needed to specify its location.

Use Cases

etformat 1.3.0 is ideal for:

  • Academic Research: Streamline data preprocessing in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and vision science
  • Usability Testing: Analyze gaze patterns during interface evaluation and user experience research
  • Clinical Applications: Process eye-tracking data in diagnostic and assessment workflows
  • Machine Learning: Prepare eye-tracking features for classification and prediction models
  • Educational Research: Study learning patterns through eye-movement analysis
  • Human-Computer Interaction: Evaluate attention and engagement in HCI studies

Documentation & Resources

Access comprehensive guides and examples:

Why This Update Matters

Eye-tracking research continues to expand across cognitive science, neuroscience, usability testing, and clinical diagnostics. Professional-grade analysis tools have traditionally been expensive or proprietary. etformat 1.3.0 provides researchers with a powerful, open-source alternative that maintains compatibility with the EyeLink ecosystem while enabling reproducible, shareable research workflows.

This major release reflects community feedback and industry best practices in eye-tracking data analysis.