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Why are eye mice unpopular? A detailed comparison of head and eye controlled assistive technology pointing devices

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Abstract

This paper examines and compares the usability problems associated with eye-based and head-based assistive technology pointing devices when used for direct manipulation on a standard graphical user interface. It discusses and examines the pros and cons of eye-based pointing in comparison to the established assistive technology technique of head-based pointing and illustrates the usability factors responsible for the apparent low usage or ‘unpopularity’ of eye-based pointing. It shows that user experience and target size on the interface are the predominant factors affecting eye-based pointing and suggests that these could be overcome to enable eye-based pointing to be a viable and available direct manipulation interaction technique for the motor-disabled community.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human-Computer Interaction Research Group, De Montfort University, The Gateway, LE1 9BH, Leicester, UK

    R. Bates & H.O. Istance

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  1. R. Bates
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  2. H.O. Istance
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Correspondence to R. Bates or H.O. Istance.

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Bates, R., Istance, H. Why are eye mice unpopular? A detailed comparison of head and eye controlled assistive technology pointing devices. UAIS 2, 280–290 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-003-0053-y

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