GazeBlend: Exploring Paired Gaze-Based Input Techniques for Navigation and Selection Tasks on Mobile Devices

TL;DR

This study investigates how combining different gaze input techniques like Dwell Time, Pursuits, and Gaze Gestures can enhance navigation and selection tasks on mobile devices, especially during walking, by improving efficiency and reducing errors.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence that pairing gaze gestures with other techniques improves task performance and offers insights into optimizing gaze-based mobile interfaces.

Findings

Pairing gestures with Dwell or Pursuits improves task completion time.

Using combined techniques reduces unintentional selections.

Pursuits may cause visual clutter, affecting other techniques.

Abstract

The potential of gaze for hands-free mobile interaction is increasingly evident. While each gaze input technique presents distinct advantages and limitations, a combination can amplify strengths and mitigate challenges. We report on the results of a user study (N=24), in which we compared the usability and performance of pairing three popular gaze input techniques: Dwell Time, Pursuits, and Gaze Gestures, for navigation and selection tasks while sitting and walking. Results show that pairing gestures for navigation with either Dwell time or Pursuits for selection improves task completion time and rate compared to using either individually. We discuss the implications of pairing gaze input techniques, such as how Pursuits may negatively impact other techniques, likely due to the visual clutter it adds, how integrating gestures for navigation reduces the chances of unintentional selections, and the impact of motor activity on performance. Our findings provide insights for effective gaze-enabled interfaces.