EyeGuide Eye Tracker FAQ

• What is eye tracking?
• What value does eye tracking offer to my research?
• Who uses eye tracking?
• I don’t do usability testing, does that mean I can’t use EyeGuide™?
• How does EyeGuide™ work?
• Does EyeGuide™ have a realtime API so that I can export data to another application?
• How accurate is EyeGuide™?
• Why is EyeGuide™ so inexpensive?
• Why are other eye tracking systems so expensive?
• Does EyeGuide™ have any downsides?
• Do I need to use eye tracking in every study?
• What kind of material can I test with EyeGuide™?
• What happens if something goes wrong with my EyeGuide™ hardware?
• How often do software updates come out?
• Can I buy more hardware units than software?
• What is the researcher’s corner?
• Where do I go to get support for my EyeGuide™ system?
• Is there someone I can call to get help with my EyeGuide™?
• Where do I go to purchase an EyeGuide™?

 

Q: What is eye tracking?
A: Eye tracking helps researchers determine where and when a user is looking at a particular location on the screen.  This is done by coordinating the position of a user’s eye with its relative position on the computer screen.

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Q: What value does eye tracking offer to my research?
A: Eye tracking provides a means of closing the gap between a user’s perceived performance and their recorded performance on a computer. Eye tracking data helps researchers determine what a user was focusing on, even when he or she says otherwise. If you aren't sure how eye tracking fits into your research, please contact us. We would love to help you out.

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Q: Who uses eye tracking?
A: Eye tracking is used by software companies, marketing and advertising professionals, web designers, educators, psychologists, usability researchers, even doctors. These professionals use eye tracking as a means of gathering a unique set of data. You can find and connect with other eye tracking researchers in the Researcher's Corner.

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Q: How does EyeGuide™ work?
A: EyeGuide™ uses an infrared camera and LED to illuminate the user’s pupil. The mobile LED allows the system to work with glasses and the primary armature allows the camera and LED to be adjusted into almost any position in front of, or beside, the user’s eye. After the user's eye is sufficiently illuminated, calibration can begin. A 9-point calibration test determines the potential accuracy of the eye tracking, and then EyeGuide displays the results (see below).

If the tester is happy with the results, testing can begin. As many users as needed can be tested. All results are automatically forwarded to EyeGuide's Analyze software or researchers have the option of exporting the data through a built-in realtime API for additional analysis in a program of their choice. During testing you can even watch what users see from another machine thanks to EyeGuide's Visualize software. EyeGuide allows researchers to view heat map, gaze plot, AOI (clusters), bee swarm, and other key eye tracking data. All video, images, as well as html and csv data, can be exported for additional analysis outside the software. To learn more about EyeGuide's functionality, visit the EyeGuide main product page or watch the many informative how-to videos.

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Q: Does EyeGuide™ have a realtime API?
A: Yes. EyeGuide researchers can take advantage of Capture’s real time Application Programming Interface (API) to record user data with a programming language of your choice. Learn more aboiut the API here.

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Q: How accurate is EyeGuide™?
A: EyeGuide™ gathers data at 50Hz, which is faster than the human eye can even move. The calibration screen in the EyeGuide™ Capture software shows facilitators exactly how accurate the calibration data is and gives them the choice of whether or not to re-calibrate and suggests how the device needs to be repositioned to improve accuracy. On a 1280 x 1024 monitor at 2-3 feet viewing distance with the user's vision set at a 90 degree angle, 2-3 pixel accuracy is possible. Calibration results can be viewed on-site or by using the remote observation station, Visualize, standard in the EyeGuide™ software suite.

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Q: Why is EyeGuide™ so inexpensive?
A: EyeGuide™ was developed with primary goal of producing an effective eye tracking system that was affordable. Grinbath began development of the system because other eye trackers were so expensive, too expensive for the founders to purchase for their usability lab. We have also been careful about the kinds of materials that we use and the kind of process we use to develop the system: we discovered early on that a few bright minds and diligent hands can create strong, functional technology without high production costs.

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Q: Why are other eye tracking systems so expensive?
A: We have had the advantage of finding a few who can do a lot of great work. Other companies employ teams of engineers, have high profit margins to maintain, or have had a lot of resources at their disposal—resources which ultimately must make their way into a sale price.

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Q: Does EyeGuide™ have any downsides?
A: All eye trackers have downsides. EyeGuide™, although extraordinarily functional, is not the prettiest eye tracking system. EyeGuide™ is also a unit that must be worn by the user, although this allows the system to work with glasses, bifocals, contacts, and operate in a very wide range of lighting conditions. Finally, EyeGuide does not have head movement compensation built in, so users during test must keep their head as still as possible for the best results.

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Q: Do I need to use eye tracking in every study?
A: No. Eye tracking is not necessary in every study, and we don't use it for every one of our user experience studies. Take a look at this informative video from Dr Still, Grinbath CEO, to learn more about when and when not to use eye tracking in your research. Ultimately, the nice thing about EyeGuide™'s price point is that you don't feel like you have to use it every time to get your money's worth.

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Q: What kind of material can I test with EyeGuide™?
A: EyeGuide™ works with a wide range of stimuli, content, and material, but some analysis tools work better than others depending on what is being tested. Clusters, Gaze Plots, and Heatmap are designed to form aggregates of material viewed during a test. These particular analysis tools work well for websites, "static position" videos such as news videos, or interfaces. Replay and Bee Swarm are the so called "playback" tools and work best with movies, documents longer than one page (reading comprehension), or any material or content that is dynamic.

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Q: What happens if something goes wrong with my EyeGuide™ hardware?
A: We have a 30-day warranty for EyeGuide™ and its components. Should any of the major components on your EyeGuide™ hardware break within that period, we will replace them for free. If after the 30 days something goes wrong or you want to purchase additional or backup parts, you can do so by contacting us with a contact form. Don't forget to select "EyeGuide™ Support" from the category drop-down.

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Q: How often do software updates come out?
A: There is no set schedule for software updates, but we are always gathering feedback and suggestions. We are taking an open source approach to software releases. Therefore, rather than releasing a bundle of upgrades once a year, for example, we will upgrade EyeGuide somewhat "on demand" in response to user feedback. In fact, if you have an idea of how to improve EyeGuide™, please let us know and we will evaluate and most likely include your suggestion in an upcoming software release.

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Q: Can I buy more hardware units than software?
A: You certainly can. Look at the pricing page to learn how.

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Q: What is the researcher’s corner?
A: The Researcher's Corner is a place for you to look at current and upcoming research being done with EyeGuide™ and to connect with other researchers both in industry and academia. The Researcher's Corner also hosts a variety of research topics for panel discussions or (writing) articles.

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Q: Where do I go to get support for my EyeGuide™ system?
A: There is an entire forum devoted purely to supporting the EyeGuide™, available in the support forum, here: EyeGuide™ Support Forum.

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Q: Is there someone I can call to get help with my EyeGuide™?
A: The greatest research for help is the online support forum. However, we've made a pledge to get you the answers you need in 24 hours or less. If you contact us for help and the forum can't give you the answer, we'll call to help you get the solution you need. We will also offer ongoing webinars for training on useful topics.

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Q: Where do I go to purchase an EyeGuide™?
A: Contact Grinbath sales representatives using the contact form on the Contact page. Make sure that you select “sales inquiry” as your reason for contact.

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