Comparing Ocular Parameters for Cognitive Load Measurement in Eye-Gaze-Controlled Interfaces for Automotive and Desktop Computing Environments

Abstract

Eye-gaze tracking is traditionally used to analyze ocular parameters for investigating visual psychology, marketing study, behavior analysis, and so on. Currently, eye-gaze trackers are also being used to control electronic interfaces in assistive technology, automobile control, and even consumer electronic products like smartphones and tablets. However, there are not many attempts to combine these two streams of research on active and passive uses of eye-gaze trackers. This article compares a few ocular parameters to estimate users’ cognitive load in eye-gaze-controlled interfaces. It was found that average velocity of a particular type of microsaccadic eye movement called Saccadic Intrusion is most indicative of users’ cognitive load compared to pupil dilation and eye-blink-based parameters. Results from the study can be used to develop new metrics of cognitive load measurement, as well as to design intelligent gaze-controlled interfaces that respond to users’ cognitive load.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Pradipta Biswas

Pradipta Biswas, PhD, is a Senior Research Associate at University of Cambridge. His research addresses a wide range of human−machine interaction issues ranging from designing user model for people with severe physical impairment to proposing new interaction techniques for automotive and aviation environments.

Varun Dutt

Varun Dutt is an Assistant Professor at School of Computing and Electrical Engineering and School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi.

Pat Langdon

Pat Langdon is a Principal Research Associate at the Inclusive Design Group of Engineering Design Centre in the University of Cambridge. His research has contributed to cognitive science, artificial intelligence, robotics, and psychophysical studies of the human visual system.