Eye movements in real and simulated driving and navigation control - Foreword to the Special Issue

Groner, Rudolf; Kasneci, Enkelejda · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.16910/jemr.12.3.0

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Summary

This foreword introduces a special issue of the *Journal of Eye Movement Research* dedicated to eye movements in real and simulated driving and navigation control. The authors, Rudolf Groner and Enkelejda Kasneci, motivate the collection by highlighting the increasing complexity of technological systems in the digital age, which necessitates optimizing the interaction between human operators and machines. The central research problem addressed across the ten featured articles is the role of attentional processes in human-machine interaction, specifically how eye-tracking data can capture these processes to improve safety, training, and interface design. The issue spans diverse domains, including automotive driving, aviation, maritime operations, and eye-computer interaction (ECI). The special issue comprises a mix of literature reviews, observational field studies, and experimental work conducted in simulators. Cvahte Ojsteršek and Topolšek provide a scientometric analysis of 139 studies on driver distraction, recommending broader distractor stimuli and interdisciplinary approaches for future research. Experimental studies utilize eye-tracking devices to measure gaze dynamics, saccade strategies, and cognitive load. For instance, Schnebelen, Charron, and Mars investigated gaze dynamics to distinguish between manual and automated driving, while Bickerdt et al. combined gaze tracking with vehicle sensors to determine perceptual limits in a simulator with 50 participants. In aviation, Vlačić et al. proposed a network approach to describe individual saccade strategies for pilot selection, and Babu et al. analyzed ocular parameters of 14 pilots during air-to-ground attack training to estimate cognitive load. Maritime studies by Mao et al. and Atik & Arslan compared novice and expert operators in crane lifting and electronic navigation simulations, respectively. Additionally, Niu et al. conducted experiments to optimize target size and dwell time for ECI interfaces. The findings consistently demonstrate the utility of eye-tracking metrics in assessing human performance and system interaction. In driving, gaze dynamics were identified as the most significant factor in distinguishing manual from automated control, and specific ocular parameters correlated significantly with altitude gradients during pilot training. In maritime contexts, significant differences in eye behavior were found between novice and expert ship officers, validating eye tracking as a tool for assessing electronic navigation competency and situational awareness. For ECI, the studies provided empirical data on optimal interface design parameters. Across all domains, the research highlights that attentional processes, captured through eye movements, are crucial for understanding human capabilities and limitations. The significance of this collection lies in its demonstration of the broad applicability of eye-tracking technology in enhancing the safety and efficiency of complex technological systems. By fitting technology to human cognitive and perceptual limits, the studies contribute to improved training protocols, better pilot and operator selection processes, and more effective human-machine interfaces. The authors conclude that measuring attentional processes via eye movements is a valuable method for optimizing human operator performance in the digital age, offering insights that are critical for the development of autonomous systems and advanced navigation controls.

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Topics

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• eye movements scanning
• gaze based attention detection
• useful field of view
• peripheral attention
• attention allocation
• visual

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• Methodological Resource: tool software, measurement protocol
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model