Use of an Eyetracking System in the Usability Laboratory

Abstract

There are many situations in assessing product or system usability where it is desirable to know where a person is looking. Currently, eyetracking systems that provide this capability are rarely found in organizations that are involved in usability engineering. In contrast, one of the unique features of the Contel Intelligent System's Usability Laboratory (recently merged with GTE Laboratories) is the Eyegaze System, an eyetracking system, developed by LC Technologies. Our desire is to implement an approach for characterizing a computer user's ocular “behavior” in a way that supplements the measures of performance that can be derived from observations of overt behavior. This presentation will describe an eye movement study conducted using PRODIGY Display Screens, highlighting the use of the Eyegaze System as a usability tool. A short video will be presented (1) showing the Eyegaze System as an integral facet of the usability laboratory, and (2) showing results of the type of study that can be performed using an eyetracking system for usability assessments.