Phasya

Phasya operated as a specialized software firm focused on monitoring human physiological and cognitive states, originating as a spin-off from the University of Liège in Belgium. The company was founded in December 2014 by Jérôme Wertz and Clémentine François, stemming from extensive multidisciplinary research. Wertz, serving as CEO, leveraged his background in developing algorithms to calculate ocular parameters from high-speed camera images, a project developed in collaboration with sleep disorder specialists and cognitive psychologists. This research formed the basis of Phasya's core technology.

The firm's business centered on developing AI-based software that analyzes biometric signals—primarily from eye-tracking cameras and heart rate sensors—to assess states like drowsiness, distraction, cognitive load, and stress. This technology was hardware-agnostic, designed to integrate with various sensors and processing platforms. The primary market was the automotive industry, where its algorithms are integral components for Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) aimed at enhancing vehicle safety by detecting early signs of driver fatigue. Beyond automotive, Phasya targeted applications in aviation, rail, industrial control rooms, and even consumer markets like gaming and medical diagnostics. Before its acquisition, the company's business model involved licensing its software modules and providing support services to help clients integrate the technology from initial concept to a validated product.

A significant milestone occurred in August 2021, when Phasya was acquired by Tobii, a global leader in eye-tracking technology, for approximately €4 million. At the time of the acquisition, Phasya was in an early, pre-revenue commercialization phase. The deal was a strategic move for Tobii, allowing it to enhance its own Driver Monitoring System, which it launched concurrently with the acquisition announcement. The integration of Phasya's cognitive state algorithms with Tobii's eye-tracking hardware created a more robust offering, now known as Tobii DMS or Tobii Autosense. This combined solution provides real-time feedback on driver state to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, addressing the mass market adoption of DMS expected around 2024-2025.

Keywords: physiological monitoring, cognitive state analysis, driver monitoring system, DMS, automotive safety, eye tracking software, biometric signals, drowsiness detection, attention computing, cognitive load, human factors, safetytech, Tobii, University of Liège spin-off, occupant monitoring, fatigue risk management, AI software, transportation safety, human-machine interface, biometric data analysis