Using coefficient K to distinguish ambient/focal visual attention during map viewing

  • Krzysztof Krejtz SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Arzu Coltekin Department of Geography, University of Zurich
  • Andrew Duchowski Clemson University
  • Anna Niedzielska National Information Processing Institute, Poland
Keywords: Ambient/focal attention, cartography

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of the ambient/focal coecient K for studying the dynamics of visual behavior when performing cartographic tasks. Participants viewed a cartographic map and satellite image of Barcelona while performing a number of map-related tasks. Cartographic maps can be viewed as summary representations of reality, while satellite images are typically more veridical, and contain considerably more information. Our analysis of traditional eye movement metrics suggests that the satellite representation facilitates longer fixation durations, requiring greater scrutiny of the map. The cartographic map affords greater peripheral scanning, as evidenced by larger saccade amplitudes. Evaluation of K elucidates task dependence of ambient/focal attention dynamics when working with geographic visualizations: localization progresses from ambient to focal attention; route planning fluctuates in an ambient-focal.ambient pattern characteristic of the three stages of route end point localization, route following, and route confirmation.

Published
2017-04-03
How to Cite
Krejtz, K., Coltekin, A., Duchowski, A., & Niedzielska, A. (2017). Using coefficient K to distinguish ambient/focal visual attention during map viewing. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.16910/jemr.10.2.3
Section
Articles