Eye-tracking study paves way for gaze-based phone interaction

Human-computer interaction specialists from universities in Scotland, Germany and Portugal are investigating how ‘gaze-based’ interaction could be integrated into future generations of technology.

Researchers investigated how three forms of gaze interaction work while users are walking or sitting, and which methods users prefer in both situations. The results are set to be presented as a paper at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems later this month.

The team believes the paper could help shape the user experience of future mobile devices, likely to embrace eye-tracking technology as front-facing cameras become more sophisticated.

The paper is based on an evaluation of 24 study participants’ experiences with using different eye-based interaction methods whilst seated at a desk and then walking around a room.

According to the team, participants used the methods to select specific targets from a grid of white, circular shapes on a mobile phone screen each time one of the targets turned from white to black.