Heat Metaphor for Attention Estimation for Educational VR

We prototype a technique, for educational VR applications, to estimate each student's level of attention in real time. Our system attaches scores to both students and objects, which change in response to eye-tracked gaze intersections. Compared to a simple angle-based approach, our system provides a dynamic and granular representation of object importance and frees the lesson designer from having to fully define objects of interest and timings. Our system takes into account simultaneous behaviors of multiple students and filters out brief behavioral deviations of attentive students. The results may help a teacher or a virtual agent better guide students.