Abstract

Eye tracking and studies involving eye tracking have a very long and complicated history. Traditionally, observers taking part in a study of the eye involving a remote eye tracker were restricted in their mobility, often having their head and body confined and looking at stimuli on a computer to get the best possible readings. But recently, the mobile eye tracker has become increasingly popular for use in eye tracking studies. The observer is now able to move around, and the stimuli chosen has become far more akin to a real life situation. Unfortunately, data taken using mobile eye trackers as opposed to remote eye trackers is less accurate, and the convenience of setting up an experiment in a fully controlled environment is traded for accuracy in real life. Furthermore, mobile eye trackers are much more costly and time-consuming than a remote eye tracker. The purpose of our study is to determine whether there is a measured difference in the eye movements and reaction to stimuli in a real life scenario as opposed to a virtual scenario. Moreover, in the presence of a difference, we will determine the viability of virtual reality technology as a middle ground between the convenience of a virtual setting and the actuality of a real setting. To perform this experiment, we will be using eye tracking devices and software from SMI to collect and analyze our data. In the future, we hope that the information we gather will be useful in experimental design using eye trackers.