[IxDA Discuss] Eye tracking, how valuable is it?

[John Grøtting]

I would agree with Peter. Eye-tracking comes from research that looks  
to define a singular "best way" to design a layout for optimal speed.  
However, there are so many factors that contribute to usability, that  
this is the greatest overkill that I have ever seen applied to a  
project. There has been some good research around fundamental  
perception that eye-tracking has helped, but for real business  
situations, it is too academic.

If you were building a heads-up display for fighter jets, then an eye- 
tracking research project is very appropriate, but when I see how  
Jakob Nielsen uses eye-tracking (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ 
reading_pattern.html), it is obvious that many people are missing the  
ball. Most of what we learn is common sense. When you apply good  
design principles, you don't need this kind of research. And, if you  
didn't apply good design principles in the first place, then you  
probably don't have the staff to fix the problems anyways.


Am 06.07.2006 um 23:58 schrieb Peter Merholz:

> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted  
> material.]
>
>> 2. How valuable is it? What can you say based on eye-tracking data?
>

John Grøtting

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