Improving usability through eye tracking research

Few quantitative research studies exist within technical communication that empirically test the validity of design guidelines and textual presentation styles. Eye tracking provides one method for conducting such quantitative research. This work describes the basic workings of eye tracking equipment. It then discusses three approaches to data analysis that have been used by human-computer interaction (HCI) researchers to study usability. Lastly, it identifies research areas within technical communication that would benefit from eye tracking research.