What can a mouse cursor tell us more?: correlation of eye/mouse movements on web browsing

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we describe a study on the relationship between gaze position and cursor position on a computer screen during web browsing. Users were asked to browse several web sites while their eye/mouse movements were recorded. The data suggest that there is a strong relationship between gaze position and cursor position. The data also show that there are regular patterns of eye/mouse movements. Based on these findings, we argue that a mouse could provide us more information than just the x, y position where a user is pointing. This implies that we can use an inexpensive and extremely popular tool as an alternative of eye-tracking systems, especially in web usability evaluation. Moreover, by understanding the intent of every mouse movement, we may be able to achieve a better interface for human computer interaction.

REFERENCES

• 1: Michael D. Byrne , John R. Anderson , Scott Douglass , Michael Matessa, Eye tracking the visual search of click-down menus, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems: the CHI is the limit, p.402-409, May 15-20, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States [doi>10.1145/302979.303118]
• 2: Poynter Institute (2000). Stanford Poynter Eyetrack Project: Study of Reading of On-Line News Site. http://www.poynter.org/eyetrack2000/
• 3: Dario D. Salvucci, Inferring intent in eye-based interfaces: tracing eye movements with process models, Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems: the CHI is the limit, p.254-261, May 15-20, 1999, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States [doi>10.1145/302979.303055]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Haptic I/O

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
cursor, eye movements, eye tracking, gaze, mouse movements, web evaluation