Eye Tracking: A Rich Source of Information for User Modeling

Abstract

This presentation focuses on two aspects of eye-tracking research: using point-of-gaze information to look at shifts in attention and using changes in pupil diameter to know when cognitive demands occur. Both aspects are immediately important in cognitive modeling because as modelers, we want to understand as much as we can about individuals’ underlying cognitive processes. Eye tracking yields very precise behavioral and physiological data that contribute to our understanding.

The presentation describes several research examples in which eye-tracking data have been incorporated into basic cognitive models. Video clips illustrate the basic tasks and the ways that individuals’ eyes respond when they attempt to complete the tasks. Graphic representations highlight and quantify the eye movements, providing colorful traces that show the position of the point-of-gaze every 4 msec. And, plots of pupil change over time show the correlation between effortful cognitive processing and stimulus difficulty.

Research examples range from simple arithmetic calculations to complex military situations. The emphasis is on the ways that eye-tracking information can facilitate the modeling process, and the strengths and weakness of eye tracking methodologies are examined.

Finally, the presentation showcases a few commercial applications in which eyetracking analyses have yielded important insights into human behavior. These examples show a vital connection between theoretical development of cognitive models and practical adoption of their results.