Fixation identification in centroid versus start-point modes using eye-tracking data

Percept Mot Skills. 2008 Jun;106(3):710-24. doi: 10.2466/pms.106.3.710-724.

Abstract

Fixation-identification algorithms, needed for analyses of eye movements, may typically be separated into three categories, viz. (i) velocity-based algorithms, (ii) area-based algorithms, and (iii) dispersion-based algorithms. Dispersion-based algorithms are commonly used but this application introduces some difficulties, one being optimization. Basically, there are two modes to reach this goal of optimization, viz., the start-point mode and the centroid mode. The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate these two dispersion-based algorithms. Manual inspections were made of 1,400 fixations in each mode. Odds ratios showed that by using the centroid mode for fixation detection, a valid fixation is 2.86 times more likely to be identified than by using the start-point mode. Moreover, the algorithm based on centroid mode dispersion showed a good interpretation speed, accuracy, robustness, and ease of implementation, as well as adequate parameter settings.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Data Collection
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Ocular Physiological Phenomena
  • Odds Ratio
  • Reading*
  • Research Design
  • Saccades / physiology
  • Software
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Videotape Recording / statistics & numerical data
  • Visual Fields / physiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology*