Supporting the eye tracking analysis of multiple moving targets: Design concept and algorithm

Mapping eye tracking data for moving targets on computer displays is a difficult task due to the characteristics of the moving targets and the limited capabilities of the eye tracking systems. We introduce 1) a design concept to map eye fixations to moving targets, and 2) an algorithm that generates “target-based” eye tracking data that determines eye fixation order and duration specific to the moving targets. The mapping reduces the number of areas of interest (AOIs) required for the analysis by trading off AOI size and accuracy in correspondence with the targets of interest. Our resulting methodology was applied to a case study with an air traffic controller conducting a conflict detection task with multiple moving aircraft on a simulated radar screen. Benchmarking results show that a limited reduction in accuracy when considering the larger AOIs and the number of fixations on the targets. The methodology shows promise for supporting the analysis of eye tracking data for tracking multiple moving targets.