No doubt that by now you’ve read much of the debate about eye tracking for usability studies, whether it’s effective, whether it’s affordable, whether or not it actually works. Some say that eye fixations don’t necessarily translate to attention or even understanding of a website’s layout. Then of course, there are supporters of eye tracking, some saying it’s entirely useful and others that argue for it’s use as a more supplementary tool, to be used in collaboration with other, more … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking Web Usability Study Reveals the “Golden Triangle”
June 14, 2010 by at 5:29 pm
We’ve written a few articles on website usability and how, in particular, people search the web, scanning their eyes across the screen to seek out the results relevant to their search. Many studies using eye tracking heatmaps have shown that web users tend to scan in an “F” pattern – that is, focusing mainly on the upper left side of the screen and scanning across horizontally and then down the left hand side to check what’s on the page. This makes sense. Think about when you do a search … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking Questions Usefulness of Real Time Search Results
June 10, 2010 by at 6:57 pm
A few eye tracking studies have shown that users tend to ignore “real time” results in searches. There is quite a lot of eye tracking research that goes into the usability and effectiveness of one of the most popular websites, Google. But if new research is showing ineffective trends for real time results, it can’t be good news for Twitter, who recently made deals with both Google and Bing to allow them to index its content and display it within the search results.Over a decade ago, a group … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking Research on Banner Ad Blindness
June 9, 2010 by at 5:22 pm
Humans adapt in mysterious ways. Sometimes they adapt in more obvious ones though. When you’re browsing through webpages, you’re continuously bombarded with advertisements, flashing colors, expanding boxes, and catchy text. But in all honesty, if I surf the web for 15 minutes, I won't recall any particulars about the ads I’ve seen, let alone notice that I’ve seen any in the first place. This can be attributed to what was once called “banner blindness,” an aversion that people have to … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking on the Cheap: Making MacGyver Proud
June 2, 2010 by at 3:44 pm
One of the more fun aspects of writing for Eye Tracking Update is when a new, do-it-yourself eye tracking device shows up online. With so many formal reports (these are also great, of course!) involving medical diagnostics and web usability studies, it’s refreshing and enjoyable to see when tinkerers start innovating on their own, on the cheap, and for no other reason than to have fun doing it.A post that falls under all of these categories was brought to our attention, and it features a video … [Read more...]
Google Uses Eye Tracking to Test its Revamped Design
May 24, 2010 by at 4:30 pm
As the saying goes, "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it." But even the most successful websites need a reassessment every now and again to stay ahead of the game. A few days ago, Google introduced it’s latest changes, the eighth iteration of the world’s most popular site. Well, that may not be true anymore actually, as Facebook recently edged Google out of the most visited spot in the United States. Even so, the second most visited spot in the US isn’t a bad place to be, but when you’re … [Read more...]
Eye Controlled Video Games? Better Late Than Never
May 12, 2010 by at 10:00 am
A recent article published in New Scientist may be a little late to the Eye Tracking party as far as we’re concerned, but it’s certainly good to see more eye tracking news in mainstream media, even if it is focusing on something that’s no novelty to most within the industry.The “innovation” article focuses on gamers in search of a more interactive, immersive, and thrilling gaming experience. And thanks to innovations in gaze tracking, gamers have yet another tool at their disposal for … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking: Online Social Networks and Web Usability Testing
April 30, 2010 by at 2:49 pm
Website usability testing has received a lot of attention lately. As some of the most frequently used sites on the web, social networking vehicles like Facebook have been the subject of multiple usability studies. Various Eye Tracking Update articles have touched on the debate regarding which technique used in these studies for evaluating web usability is superior.One study conducted at a Swedish university compared the efficiency of two different methods while assessing the usability of Facebook, … [Read more...]
Eye Tracking: Readers Run Out of Gas Below the Fold
April 26, 2010 by at 11:03 am
Web usability guidelines have remained pretty consistent since the inception of the Internet. Actually, according to an article entitled “Scrolling and Attention,” 80% of these guidelines have remained the same since the 1990s. But one guideline that has changed has to do with the “above the fold” concept. During the first years of the web’s existence, it was recommended that all information appear within the webpage’s initially viewable area, as users were accustomed to being presented … [Read more...]
The Accuracy of Eye Tracking: A Web Usability Debate
April 10, 2010 by at 12:00 pm
After searching for online content, anyone curious about eye tracking has probably realized that there is plenty debate on the advantages and disadvantages of the technology (to be fair, most of the controversy we see centers around usability testing and accuracy, not eye tracking as a medical or communicative solution).Some posts claim that it’s the Holy Grail that will lead to perfect insight into the way people use and interact with websites. But as with any sort of usability testing, there … [Read more...]