I have done a method study, using eye tracking.
Abstract: This paper describes a qualitative study with the goal of investigating if eye tracking is a relevant method when performing usability tests with respondents with autism. The study explores this through performing usability tests with two target groups, five respondents with autism and four without. The usability test is executed on the respondents’ own smartphones and both screen and eye tracking is recorded. To get a deeper insight into the respondent reasoning throughout the interaction a retrospective recall report was added after the test was performed. The paper describes the procedure of the test but focuses on methodology findings. Eye tracking allowed us to not rely upon the respondents’ capacity for verbal expression, the eye tracking video in itself was able to generate usability issues and insights without the respondents’ verbal feedback. This shows a method suitable when testing with target groups who are not comfortable or able to verbally communicate and that opens up doors for performing usability tests with target groups which otherwise might not be included.
Learnings: The one major conclusion is that—not only design needs to be accessible, processes and methods when involving users need to be accessible, inclusive and human. Eye tracking might be one of the methods on the road to succeed with that goal.
I did a talk at the ICEM summit (the sound is out of synch…)
