Transit drivers' reflections on the benefits and harms of eye tracking technology

TL;DR

This study explores transit bus drivers' perceptions of eye tracking technology, revealing potential benefits and concerns through a mixed methods approach involving firsthand experience and reflective interviews.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mixed methods approach to study end-user perceptions of eye tracking in transportation, focusing on transit drivers' views.

Findings

Identified potential uses of eye tracking in transit work

Revealed drivers' fears and concerns about privacy and surveillance

Highlighted the importance of user perceptions in technology adoption

Abstract

Eye tracking technology offers great potential for improving road safety. It is already being built into vehicles, namely cars and trucks. When this technology is integrated into transit service vehicles, employees, i.e., bus drivers, will be subject to being eye tracked on their job. Although there is much research effort advancing algorithms for eye tracking in transportation, less is known about how end users perceive this technology, especially when interacting with it in an employer-mandated context. In this first study of its kind, we investigated transit bus operators' perceptions of eye tracking technology. From a methodological perspective, we introduce a mixed methods approach where participants experience the technology first-hand and then reflect on their experience while viewing a playback of the recorded data. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts reveals interesting potential uses of eye tracking in this work context and surfaces transit operators' fears and concerns about this technology.