Author: Joe Goldberg, Principal Research Scientist - Oracle Applications User Experience

Come see state-of-the-art innovation in user experience evaluation. “Eye tracking” is an important new usability research tool that enables us to determine where a user’s visual attention is focused when completing online tasks. This information helps us make important interface design decisions, so that tasks can be completed more quickly and with less confusion. This Oracle OpenWorld Demopod will feature eye tracking while completing tasks on an emulated iPhone.

What does eye tracking look like? See the images below. The first image shows a Las Vegas skyline with aggregate eye tracking data across many users. The red areas indicate locations with more visual interest. The second image shows a Las Vegas skyline with a superimposed user's visual scanpath. The circles indicate fixations, where the eye dwelled for a short time.after the first exposure to an application. 

A Las Vegas skyline showing aggregate eye tracking data across many users. Red indicates more visual interest.

Same image with a user’s visual scanpath. Circles indicate locations where the eye dwelled briefly.

I’m Joe Goldberg, and I invite you to join me and members of our Applications User Experience team at:

Come join us and learn how:
• Eye movement patterns can drive user interface design improvements.
• “Heatmap” visualizations can show aggregate user trends.
• New usability tools such as eye tracking can inform micro-levels of design   decisions for interfaces.

If you have questions about this demo, feel free to post them now, so that we can be ready for you at Oracle OpenWorld 2008!