Eye-tracking Method Research Articles

Gender and Family Stereotypes in a Photograph: Research Using the Eye-Tracking Method

Abstract The article presents the results of a 2022 study involving students training to be civic studies teachers. Three research goals were set: to determine which gender and family stereotypes burden the interpretation of a photograph; to identify qualitative differences in the perception, analysis, and interpretation of the photograph depending on the form of the questions asked; and to gain respondents’ feedback on the test. The test used a computer and was based on a family photograph and a series of questions. Three methods of data collection and analysis were used (audio recording analysis, eye-tracking, interview). The study found that future teachers are substantially influenced by gender stereotypes in Czech society. It also confirmed the importance of didactic structuring when analysing iconographic material. The findings show the importance of gender-sensitive education and the development of didactic skills for interpreting visual texts as part of undergraduate training for future civic studies teachers.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for chronic pain: Enhancing psychological well-being without altering attentional biases towards pain faces.

This study examines the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological measures and attentional patterns to pain stimuli, using eye-tracking methods, in individuals with chronic pain. Thirty-two participants with chronic pain and no prior mindfulness experience were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a waiting list group. Both groups completed self-report measures of symptoms, well-being, and an attentional disengagement task using emotional faces as stimuli. Assessments were conducted at two points: before and after the intervention for the experimental group, with the waiting list group serving as a control. Before the MBSR program, chronic pain participants exhibited significant attentional biases towards pain-related stimuli during early attentional stages. Following the program, significant improvements were observed in depression, anxiety, stress, pain acceptance, overall well-being, and life satisfaction. However, it had a limited impact on attentional patterns, with only a significant increase in gaze duration across all stimuli. Despite the MBSR program's success in reducing symptoms associated with chronic pain, the lack of broader attentional improvements raises questions about the mechanisms responsible for psychological improvements. This study pioneers the use of eye-tracking to examine how MBSR influences attention in chronic back pain. While the program improved psychological well-being, it did not generally alter attentional patterns, except for an increased ability to maintain attention across stimuli. We discuss whether this attentional change could be associated with the increased acceptance observed in the MBSR program.

Nontechnical Skills Assessment in Acute Care Trauma Simulations: A Mixed Methods Approach Using Eye Tracking and Behavioral Marker Systems.

The condition of trauma patients and the urgent need for timely resuscitation present unique challenges to trauma teams. These difficulties are exacerbated for military trauma teams in combat environments. Consequently, there is a need for continued improvement of nontechnical skills (NTS) training for trauma teams. However, current approaches to NTS assessment rely on subjective ratings, which can introduce bias. Accordingly, objective methods of NTS evaluation are needed. Eye-tracking (ET) methods have been applied to studying communication, situation awareness, and leadership in many health care settings, and could be applied to studying physicians' NTS during trauma situations. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between trauma team leaders' objective gaze patterns and subjective expert NTS ratings during patient care simulations. After Institutional Review Board approval, 9 trauma teams from first-year post-graduate general surgery and emergency medicine residents were recruited to participate in 1 of 2 trauma simulations (a difficult airway case and a multi-patient trauma). Each scenario lasted approximately 15 minutes. All team leaders wore a mobile ET system to evaluate gaze metrics-time to first fixation (TTFF), average fixation duration (AFD), and total percentage of the scenario (TPS) focused on Areas of Interest (AOI), which included patient, care team, diagnostic equipment, and patient care equipment. Trained faculty raters completed the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) assessment tool and the Trauma Non-Technical Skills (T-NOTECHS) scale. One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and appropriate post-hoc pairwise comparison tests were run to assess differences between ET metrics across AOI groups. Spearman's Rho tests were used to assess correlations between ET and subjective NTS ratings. Compared to other NTS domains, trauma teams scored relatively poorly on communication across both T-NOTECHS (3.29$ \pm $0.61, maximum = 5) and NOTSS (2.87$ \pm $0.66, maximum = 4). We found significant differences in trauma team leaders' TTFF between teammates and the patient (Team: 1.56 vs Patient: 29.82 seconds, P < .001). TTFF on the diagnostic equipment was negatively correlated (P < .05) to multiple measures of subjective NTS assessments. There were no significant differences in AFD between AOIs, and AFD on teammates was positively correlated (P < .05) to communication and teamwork. There were significant differences in TPS across most AOI pairs (P < .05), and the average TPS fixated was highest on the patient (32%). Finally, there were several significant correlations between additional ET and NTS metrics. This study utilized a mixed methods approach to assess trauma team leaders' NTS in simulated acute care trauma simulations. Our results provide several objective insights into trauma team leaders' NTS behaviors during patient care simulations. Such objective insights provide a more comprehensive understanding of NTS behaviors and can be leveraged to guide NTS training of trauma physicians in the future. More studies are needed to apply these methods to capture NTS from a larger sample of teams in both simulated and real trauma environments.

Virtual Loupes: A Pilot Study on the Use of Video Passthrough Augmented Reality in Plastic Surgery.

Plastic surgeons use loupes or operative microscope to aid in tissue dissection and anastomosis of structures. These devices have their own limitations in areas of visualization and weight. Current uses of augmented and virtual reality in surgery have been limited to operative planning and simulation. We present a proof of concept that harnesses video passthrough AR technology to augment the capabilities of loupes. We first evaluated methods of gaze-based eye tracking to enable digital magnification. Using the Varjo XR-1 mixed reality headset, we compared discrete zoom through displayed pop-up menu vs continuous zoom through eye winking. Six participants were recruited to perform skin suturing simulation and completed a survey and interview. Next we assessed the performance and limitations of AR digital magnification. Varjo XR-3 was utilized to address the hardware limitations. Participants performed anastomotic suturing tasks with progressively finer suture, then completed a survey and interview. There was no strong preference between zoom methods, although participants felt the discrete zoom was easier to use. Participants had difficulty determining depth and visualizing the suture due to limitations of digital magnification. Using Wilcoxon rank sum test to examine differences in system usability scale, the Phase 2 user experience had significant difference in percentile distribution (P 0.0390). Virtual loupes may be a valuable tool for plastic surgeons, with potential for variable magnification and advanced visualization. Improvements in the hardware yielded higher ratings of system usability and user experience. Further development is needed to address the limitations of existing devices.

Message Appeals of Social Media Postings: An Experimental Study on Non-Governmental Organization

ABSTRACT One of the primary objectives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is to raise awareness and funds for social issues. In this respect, social media represents a crucial tool for NGOs to disseminate their messages to large audiences. This research assumes that the level of impact of message appeals may differ according to the gender of the participants. The aim of this research is to determine the differences in the level of impact of message attractiveness according to the gender of the participants. The social media platform under investigation is Instagram, the second most widely used social media platform in Turkey, according to the We Are Social 2021 social media report. In this context, stimuli for message appeals were selected from the Instagram account of UNICEF Turkey, which is effective in the fight against poverty and is the primary sustainable development goal of the United Nations. The levels of impact of the message appeals on the participants were analyzed in 48 individuals using electroencephalography (EEG), eye tracking, and survey methods. The results of the research indicated that the level of impact of the message attractiveness on the participants differed according to their gender. This suggests that social campaigns may be more effective if their messages are designed with the understanding that they will be perceived differently by the audience. Furthermore, the adoption of personalized advertising activities by NGOs may also be beneficial.

Visual Attention to Evolutionarily Relevant Information by Heterosexual Men and Women While Viewing Mock Online Dating Profiles

The way people create social connections and access information has been altered greatly by technology in recent decades. Online browsing of visual profiles has become a common means for seeking potential partners for both short- and long-term relationships. Little is known, however, about how people prioritize mate quality information while viewing online profiles. Using eye-tracking methods and self-report, this study investigated how people evaluated profile-based facial attractiveness and text-based financial resources information, represented by income and occupation. Heterosexual male and female participants, aged between 18 and 27 years, viewed opposite-sex profiles while their eye-movements were recorded using a remote eye-tracking camera. In line with current theory, resources information had little effect on men’s overall attention to women’s faces, whereas women’s overall attention to men’s faces varied depending on the level of income and occupation. Women evaluated men’s faces more when income and occupation were low, regardless of attractiveness. Unexpectedly, however, men marginally increased their attention toward unattractive women who showed a high-level of income and more esteemed occupation. Men self-reported a higher interest in women for a short-term relationship and women self-reported a higher interest in men for a long-term relationship. This work provides a foundation to further examine how people browse profile-based information and to investigate the mate selection process, with real-world implications for online dating app users, profile design, and content.

Usability Testing of Industrial Engineering UPNVJT Website Using Eye Tracking and System Usability Scale

Websites are essential for agencies and organizations to ensure their information is accessible to the public. The eye tracker method is effective for evaluating user usability. The Industrial Engineering Study Program at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" East Java has an official website, tekindustri.upnjatim.ac.id, which has not been tested for usability. Initial problem identification revealed issues such as inaccessible menus and hidden information. This study aims to assess and improve the user experience on the website using a combination of Eye Tracking and System Usability Scale (SUS) methods. The average effectiveness score for 39 respondents is 89.10%, with 8% rated as ineffective, 28% as effective enough, and 64% as very effective. The efficiency value, measured across 39 respondents and 4 tasks, is 0.0276 goals/second, indicating each respondent completes 2.76% of tasks per second, requiring about 36.23 seconds to reach 100% task completion. The initial SUS score was 69.49%. Five issues were identified in the Home, Facilities, Education, Thesis, and MBKM sections and one design issue. A prototype was developed and tested, resulting in a final SUS score of 80.06%, placing the website in the marginally high acceptability range, category B for grade scale, and excellent for adjective ratings. The SUS score improvement was 10.57%. This research shows that combining Eye Tracking and SUS is an effective method for increasing website usability. The implications of this research can help organizations improve the quality of their websites and provide a better user experience.

Keeping an Eye Out for Change: Anxiety Disrupts Adaptive Resolution of Policy Uncertainty

BackgroundHuman learning unfolds under uncertainty. Uncertainty is heterogeneous with different forms exerting distinct influences on learning. While one can be uncertain about what to do to maximize rewarding outcomes, known as policy uncertainty, one can also be uncertain about general world knowledge, known as epistemic uncertainty (EU). In complex and naturalistic environments such as the social world, adaptive learning may hinge on striking a balance between attending to and resolving each type of uncertainty. Prior work illustrates that people with anxiety—those with increased threat and uncertainty sensitivity—learn less from aversive outcomes, particularly as outcomes become more uncertain. How does a learner adaptively trade-off between attending to these distinct sources of uncertainty to successfully learn about their social environment? MethodsWe developed a novel eye-tracking method to capture highly granular estimates of policy uncertainty and EU based on gaze patterns and pupil diameter (a physiological estimate of arousal). ResultsThese empirically derived uncertainty measures revealed that humans (N = 94) flexibly switched between resolving policy uncertainty and EU to adaptively learn about which individuals can be trusted and which should be avoided. However, those with increased anxiety (n = 49) did not flexibly switch between resolving policy uncertainty and EU and instead expressed less uncertainty overall. ConclusionsCombining modeling and eye-tracking techniques, we show that altered learning in people with anxiety emerged from an insensitivity to policy uncertainty and rigid choice policies, leading to maladaptive behaviors with untrustworthy people.

The Integration of Digital Technology in Task-Design on Eye-Tracking Studies in Geometry

Eye-tracking (ET) method provides a promising channel for educational researchers to connect learning outcomes to cognitive processes. The main principle of ET is that our gaze and our focus of attention are connected. Due to the advent of digital technologies, eye tracking studies are increasingly growing in different fields and in mathematics education. We assume that the provided task is one of the ways to analyse deeply cognitive processes, and we wonder how ET studies are dealing with the integration of digital technology in task-design in geometry. Starting from Strohmaier et al. (2020) we found three studies, one focused on geometric proofs and two based on construction of geometric objects. We highlight the contributions of integrating digital technology in learning and instruction, and in research in geometry.

Quality Analysis of SMA Negeri 1 Sokaraja Website using Eye Tracking Method

The role of websites in academic management and enhancing the reputation of a company or institution is very important. The quality of website services also has a crucial role in the world of education. Based on the results of interviews with the person in charge of the SMA Negeri 1 Sokaraja website, it was found that there were problems, namely the satisfaction of website users was not yet known and there were several pages that were not responsive, such as in the homepage/home area, which needed to be improved or optimized. This research involves a number of respondents who will give their views on the SMA Negeri 1 Sokaraja website. The analysis results obtained from this research are expected to provide a clear understanding of the extent to which this website meets the quality standards set by the Eye Tracking method. In addition, the analysis results will also provide a detailed evaluation of each aspect of the website's quality. In this research, the Eye Tracking method is used to measure where users look, how long they look, and the order in which they look. There are aspects of usability measurement, namely efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction. SMA Negeri 1 Sokaraja website users are the respondents of this research. The results of usability testing with the USE Questionier method with a feasibility percentage of 84.17% with a very feasible category which means the website is very feasible for users. The results of usability testing with the eye-tracking method that each task is well received by users, but the effectiveness of delivering information reaches a score of 73.14, this score is classified as quite effective

Analysis of health warning signs on alcoholic beverage packaging using the eye-tracking method

Abstract Producers must mark packaging with various warning signs, including the harm of alcohol consumption. The most popular warnings inform about the required consumer age (e.g., “alcohol only for adults”), consequences of drunk driving (e.g., “don’t drink and drive”), and advisable abstaining from drinking during pregnancy. The study’s main objective was to analyse the perception of warning signs on alcoholic beverage packaging using the eye-tracking method, which allows the observation and measurement of the focus of study participants. The research positively verified the ability to use the eye-tracking method to assess the perception of warning signs. The obtained research results were used to investigate the perception of warning signs placed on glass beer bottles. The study showed that the presence of pictograms (i.e., graphic symbols) does not guarantee the focus of potential buyers’ attention. The obtained results clearly indicated that the efficiency of perception results from many elements, including the sign’s placement, size and colours, a connection between graphic and textual information, and the colour of the packaging material and label. The study’s results can be useful for non-profit organisations and other entities responsible for the social marketing of alcoholic beverages. Moreover, the study could be seen as a starting point for researchers, beverage packaging industry representatives, and policymakers to test, introduce and promote packaging innovation solutions. The research filled the gap by providing a better understanding of the effectiveness of warning signs on alcoholic beverage packaging and furnished clues as to how alcohol stakeholders and public institutions should react to enhance alcohol health literacy in society.

86‐1: An Eye Tracking Method to Extend the Viewing Zone in Multiview 3D Displays

We describe the design and performance of a multi‐view 3D display system displaying an adjustable number of views. This uses an 8K panel and a simple eye tracking method to extend the viewing zones over a very large range and provides a multi‐view 3D display with high resolution and smooth motion parallax that gives the viewer good freedom of movement. The results are obtained from a system built around a 32" 8k monitor with a 45 lpi lenticular screen; it gives good image depth with motion parallax to a single user, with a viewing angle more than 60.

86‐3: Binocular Camera Eye Tracking Algorithm for Naked Eye 3D Display

Through real‐time acquisition of eye position using eye tracking, viewers can experience stereoscopic scenes from the naked eye 3D display. This paper proposes binocular camera eye tracking method that utilizes disparity to perceive the actual inter‐pupillary distance of different users. This method estimates the head posture based on facial landmark points and exploits camera projection to determine the spatial coordinate of the pupil. Furthermore, collaborative filtering approach is introduced to mitigate the jitter in pupil position. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm enhances the performance in eye tracking compared to monocular method.

Read or skip privacy policies when installing apps on wearable devices: the roles of perceived necessity and threat clues

Wearable devices are increasingly integral to our daily lives but raise significant concerns about the security of personal data. In contrast, users often skip reading privacy policies when installing apps on wearable devices. This gap between the concerns and behaviors has spurred disputes regarding business ethics between app providers and users when private information is leaked. While much research has explored the reasons underlying users’ skipping behaviors on mobile phones or tablets, there has been limited attention given to wearable devices despite their prevalence. Unlike mobile phones or tablets, wearable devices often have limited capabilities, necessitating users to install essential apps and perceive a strong sense of necessity. This research, using both eye tracking and self-report methods, investigates how this perceived necessity affects users’ attention to privacy policies on wearable devices during app installations and how it interacts with the presence of threat clues – a key factor that influences behaviors toward privacy policies. In Study 1, eye tracking technology is applied to observe the variation in users’ attention toward privacy policies. Results indicate that when users perceive a high (vs. low) necessity for an app, they pay less attention to its privacy policy. This effect is amplified when there are strong threat clues present. In Study 2, based on the process-dissociation procedure (PDP), the cognitive mechanisms underlying user reading behavior are uncovered. The findings show that users with high perceived necessity are less inclined to engage in analytical processing when reading privacy policies, and this tendency is further strengthened by strong threat clues. This research supplements the existing literature on users’ behaviors toward privacy policies on wearable devices, and it also provides practical insights for prompting users to pay more attention to privacy policies and enjoy a secure digital experience.

High-speed eye tracking based on a synchronized imaging mechanism by a dual-ring infrared lighting source

It is a challenge for conventional monocular-camera single-light source eye-tracking methods to achieve high-speed eye tracking. In this work, a dual-ring infrared lighting source was designed to achieve bright and dark pupils in high speed. The eye-tracking method used a dual-ring infrared lighting source and synchronized triggers for the even and odd camera frames to capture bright and dark pupils. A pupillary corneal reflex was calculated by the center coordinates of the Purkinje spot and the pupil. A map function was established to map the relationship between the pupillary corneal reflex and gaze spots. The gaze coordinate was calculated based on the mapping function. The average detection time of each gaze spot was 3.76 ms.

Eye-tracking-based analysis of pharmacists’ thought processes in the dispensing work: research related to the efficiency in dispensing based on right-brain thinking

BackgroundPharmacists should be aware of their thought processes in dispensing work, including differences in the dispensing complexities owing to different drug positions in the left, center, and right areas. Dispensing errors associated with “same-name drugs (a pair of drugs with the same name but a different ingredient quantity)” are prevalent and often negatively affect patients. In this study, using five pairs of comparative models, the gaze movements of pharmacists in dispensing work were analyzed using an eye-tracking method to elucidate their thought processes.MethodsWe prepared verification slides and displayed them on a prescription monitor and three drug rack monitors. The dispensing information (drug name, drug usage, location display, and total amount) was displayed on a prescription monitor. A total of 180 drugs including five target drugs were displayed on the three drug rack monitors. Total gaze points in the prescription area, those in the drug rack area, total vertical movements between the two areas, and time required to dispense drugs were measured as the four classifications Gaze 1, Gaze 2, Passage, and Time, respectively. First, we defined the two types of location displays as “numeral combination” and “color/symbol combination.” Next, we defined two pairs of models A1-A2 (numerals) and B1-B2 (color/symbol) to compare differences between the left and right areas. Moreover, three pairs of models C1-C2 (left), D1-D2 (center), and E1-E2 (right) were established to compare differences between “numeral combination” and “color/symbol combination.”ResultsSignificant differences in the complexities of dispensing work were observed in Gaze 2, Passage, and Time between the models A1-A2 (A1<A2), in Gaze 2 between the models B1-B2 (B1>B2), and in Gaze 2 and Time between the models C1-C2, D1-D2, and E1-E2 (C1>C2, D1>D2, and E1>E2, respectively).ConclusionsUsing the current dispensing rules, pharmacists are not good at dispensing drugs located in the right area. An effective measure for reducing the dispensing complexity is to introduce visual information in the prescription content; the utilization of the right brain facilitates reducing the complexity in the right dispensing area.

Assessing two methods of webcam-based eye-tracking for child language research.

We assess the feasibility of conducting web-based eye-tracking experiments with children using two methods of webcam-based eye-tracking: automatic gaze estimation with the WebGazer.js algorithm and hand annotation of gaze direction from recorded webcam videos. Experiment 1 directly compares the two methods in a visual-world language task with five to six year-old children. Experiment 2 more precisely investigates WebGazer.js' spatiotemporal resolution with four to twelve year-old children in a visual-fixation task. We find that it is possible to conduct web-based eye-tracking experiments with children in both supervised (Experiment 1) and unsupervised (Experiment 2) settings - however, the webcam eye-tracking methods differ in their sensitivity and accuracy. Webcam video annotation is well-suited to detecting fine-grained looking effects relevant to child language researchers. In contrast, WebGazer.js gaze estimates appear noisier and less temporally precise. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method and provide recommendations for researchers conducting child eye-tracking studies online.

Visual attention and phonological processing in children with developmental language disorder

IntroductionDevelopmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neurobiological condition characterized by insufficient language and communication development, with no underlying physical, sensory, or cognitive explanations. A prominent feature among children with DLD is their struggle with phonological processing, a pivotal skill for later reading proficiency. Recent research suggests that children with DLD may also exhibit impairments in various non-linguistic cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and perception. Of particular importance is visual attention, which plays a critical role in integrating visual perceptual information with diverse cognitive and linguistic processes.ObjectiveTo characterize visual attention during phonological processing tasks in Colombian children with DLD.MethodologyThis study employed a cross-sectional descriptive experimental design involving 20 children diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and 20 children without language difficulties. All participants underwent language, vocabulary, and phonological awareness tests. Additionally, an experimental task utilizing the eye-tracking method was designed and administered to measure phonological processing with phonological and lexical distractors.ResultsChildren with DLD exhibited diminished performance on phonological awareness tasks, as evidenced by their lower scores. This was further supported by the experimental phonological processing task, where an interference effect was observed in the presence of lexical distractors for word recognition, but not with phonological distractors.ConclusionChildren with DLD demonstrated deficiencies in both phonological awareness and visual attention skills during linguistic and phonological processing tasks. They also exhibit reduced sensitivity in identifying phonological relations such as rhyme. The study discusses these findings along with their clinical implications, emphasizing the importance of assessing online processing abilities in children with DLD and considering the influence of other cognitive abilities on their linguistic performance.

Critical Analysis of Eye-tracking Methods in Vocabulary Acquisition under Implicit and Explicit Instruction: A Comprehensive Review

Critical Analysis of Eye-tracking Methods in Vocabulary Acquisition under Implicit and Explicit Instruction: A Comprehensive Review

Usability Evaluation of An Eye-Tracking for Batik E-Commerce Web-Based Systems

Online developments encourage various store businesses to set up online stores or e-commerce, including buying and selling batik products. Batik as one of the masterpieces as world-recognized Indonesian cultural heritage, is still being done by Small-Medium Industry (SMIs). Currently, batik SMI still has technological limitations, even though there are quite a lot of enthusiasts. There has been no testing with the Eye-Tracking method and usability testing for batik e-commerce. Therefore, the batik e-commerce website was chosen to be the subject of this study. Techniques used to usability conducted by users, evaluators, or software used Webcam Eye-tracking. There are two batik e-commerce that provide ready-to-sell products used in this research, one is an established, and the other is a newcomer. Based on usability testing with the performance metrics, the results show that both Danar Hadi and Butimo have values that aren’t much different for the aspects of time-on-task, efficiency, and errors. While in the test satisfaction, both are in the Acceptable category. Based on statistical tests, there were no significant differences based on gender for the usability aspect tested. Proposed improvements based on the performance analysis, heatmap, and gaze replay include the main menu section and the payment platform icon section. It’s proposed to improve the placement of advertisements on the batik e-commerce with an area of interest analysis.