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”
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 on the Cheap: Making MacGyver Proud
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
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 Tracking: Readers Run Out of Gas Below the Fold
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
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...]