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. 2020 Sep 25;12(3):10.16910/jemr.12.3.8.
doi: 10.16910/jemr.12.3.8.

Improving Eye-Computer Interaction Interface Design: Ergonomic Investigations of the Optimum Target Size and Gaze-triggering Dwell Time

Ya-Feng Niu  1 , Yue Gao  1 , Ya-Ting Zhang  1 , Cheng-Qi Xue  1 , Li-Xin Yang  1
Affiliations

Improving Eye-Computer Interaction Interface Design: Ergonomic Investigations of the Optimum Target Size and Gaze-triggering Dwell Time

Ya-Feng Niu et al. J Eye Mov Res. .

Abstract

Interactive feedback of interface elements and low level of spatial accuracy are two main key points for the interaction research in the Eye-computer interaction system. This study tried to solve these two problems from the perspective of human-computer interactions and ergonomics. Two experiments were conducted to explore the optimum target size and gaze-triggering dwell time of the eye-computer interaction (ECI) system. Experimental Series 1 was used as the pre-experiment to identify the size that has a greater task completion rate. Experimental Series 2 was used as the main experiment to investigate the optimum gaze-triggering dwell time by using a comprehensive evaluation of the task completion rate, reaction time, and NASA-TLX (Task Load Index). In Experimental Series 1, the optimal element size was determined to be 256 × 256p x 2. The conclusion of Experimental Series 2 was that when the dwell time is set to 600 ms, the efficiency of the interface is the highest, and the task load of subjects is minimal as well. Finally, the results of Experiment Series 1 and 2 have positive effects on improving the usability of the interface. The optimal control size and the optimal dwell time obtained from the experiments have certain reference and application value for interface design and software development of the ECI system.

Keywords: ECI; dwell time; ergonomics; target size; usability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the contents of the article are in agreement with the ethics described in http://biblio.unibe.ch/portale/elibrary/BOP/jemr/ethics.html and that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this research.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Midas touch (left) and low spatial accuracy (right).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Basic gaze interaction model of the eye–computer interface (ECI) system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic graph of the control position (left) and four control sizes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Flow chart of the Experimental Series 1 trial.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Box plot of reaction time.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Line chart showing the results of the accuracy analysis.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Timeline of a trial in Experimental Series 2.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Flow chart of trials in Experimental Series 2.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Boxplot of reaction times at different levels of dwell time.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Average score of the task load at four levels.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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