Eye Tracking
UX Design
What is Eye Tracking
Eye Tracking is a research method that measures where users look, for how long, and the path their eyes take when viewing an interface. It provides objective data about visual attention, helping researchers understand how users process and interact with design elements.
Types of Eye Tracking Data
Key measurements include:
- Fixations: Points where eyes pause to focus
- Saccades: Rapid eye movements between fixations
- Heat Maps: Visual representations of attention patterns
- Gaze Plots: Sequential paths of eye movement
When to use Eye Tracking
Implement eye tracking during usability studies when you need to understand visual hierarchy, content consumption patterns, or advertisement effectiveness. It's particularly valuable for optimizing layouts, navigation designs, and content placement.
Benefits of Eye Tracking
This method provides objective data about user attention, reveals unconscious viewing behaviors, helps validate design decisions, and identifies potential usability issues related to visual perception and information findability.
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For qualitative insights, 6-8 participants often provide sufficient data. For quantitative studies, aim for 30-40 participants to ensure statistical significance.
Yes, modern webcam-based eye tracking solutions enable remote studies, though they may be less precise than professional equipment. Consider the trade-off between precision and participant accessibility.
Eye tracking shows where users look but not why they look there. It should be combined with other research methods to understand user motivation and decision-making processes.
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