Macular Degeneration and Visual Search: What We Can Learn from Eye Movement Analysis

Traditional approaches to the evaluation of a computer interface typically uses methods such as cognitive walk through, GOMs, task analysis, user's performance and self-report. These are effective approaches; however, they are more subjective than objective. Eye-movement analysis provides a unique and useful strategy for evaluating a computer interface. Additionally, it allows a quantitative approach to understand how users interact with the computer. In this paper, background color, icon size and number of icon presentation were tested on participants with Age-related Macular Degeneration. The experimental design is a matching to sample task where participants were presented with a sample icon and the task is to match the sample icon to a set of icons. Eye-movement data were recorded through video output and digitized for analysis. Results of the study showed that icon size and the number of icon presentation have a significant effect on the time participants took to search and identify the target icon.