The primary goal of this research is to use eye-tracking in the development and usability evaluation of an e-learning tool called "Problem Solving Environment for Continuous Process Design" (PSE). The PSE is meant to aid engineering students in learning the design processes of automated manufacturing systems. PSE is a user-interactive Flash application which gives the user an opportunity to virtually design an automated industrial process by manipulating the parameters associated with it. PSE is evaluated using eye-tracking experiments in which users' eye movements are tracked using camera and sensors to determine users' gaze direction and fixations. The data collected from the experiment is used to determine if use of visual cues improved the usability of the PSE. Results show that use of visual cues for gaze direction improved the usability of the PSE application, based on faster task completion times and improved navigability.
ETD Chair
McNamara, Ann Associate Dean for Research and Creative Works. School of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts
