Visual Attention Patterns in Adults According to the Use of Things in Aided AAC VSDs: An Eye-tracking Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate patterns of visual attention on a target object in VSDs (Visual Scene Displays) when they are designed with/without an action of usage of the object. We used eye-tracking technology to evaluate how the action of usage of an object in still photographs influenced the visual attention of adults without disabilities. We tried to examine visual attention on the contents of visual scene displays (VSDs).Methods: 25 college students participated in the study. Eye-tracking technology recorded point-of-gaze while participants viewed 20 photographs. Data from eye-tracking provided information on where participants were visually fixated and paid more attention on the presented VSDs including a target object.Results: Both total fixation duration and average fixation count were statistically significant. Participants visually fixated on the target object longer and more often when the object was being used in the presented VSDs. For AOI (Area Of Interest) time of the first fixation, after analyzing only a partial group that had the data match due to the difference in gaze pattern per subject, the average AOI time of the first fixation was shown to be faster when using an object in 6 out of 10 objects.Conclusion: This study supports the inclusion of an action of an object usage in VSDs suggesting that the act of object usage can partially influence the visual attention pattern of a user.