The methodology that is defined and validated during the project integrates
the classical qualitative tests with the analysis of exploration eye movements.
In fact, since visual information can be acquired only when the image
of the object of interest falls on the fovea, eye movements are needed
to shift the gaze from one part to the other of a visual scene the subject
is exploring. The visual scene, in this particular application, is represented
by the computer display.
Therefore, the study of eye movements during visual exploration can tell
us where the subject is looking and for how long his gaze remains on a
specific part of the screen. Detailed analysis of eye movements on a text
can provide rich information on both fixations and re-fixations that can
be considered as quantitative indicators of the level of difficulty of
the text. But of course, also the attention level of the subject must
be considered, since fixation duration per se is not enough to guarantee
that the subject is actually acquiring information. Therefore, other cognitive
parameters are evaluated during the experimental phase of the project.
When a subject is facing an e-learning system, his exploration behaviour
can influence significantly the level of learning and in return tell us
what would be the best location on the interface to put important information.
If a part of the screen is not explored, the information that this part
contains are not acquired by the subject.
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