Exploring user experience through eye-tracking : the case of UP Medical Library

Abstract

The importance of incorporating user experience (UX) design into the development of interactive systems is well established. What is less discussed is the vital role of incorporating UX design into the design of physical spaces like a library. Following a refurbishment of the University of Pretoria (UP) Medical Campus library, a UX evaluation using eye-tracking technology was conducted to determine the extent to which students would be able to use the library spaces unaided. UX evaluations using eye-tracking involve measuring the movement of the eyes, particularly on a computer interface, to pinpoint where a user’s eyes are focused at a specific point in time. Ten students were involved in the UX evaluation using the Tobii Pro 2 glasses eye tracker. Each participant completed six tasks that required them to find a particular library space, using only the library signages as a guide. The overall impression of all participants was positive with respect to the new facilities that are available and the modern design of the library. However, most participants struggled to find the library spaces without assistance due to lack of, and sometimes confusing signages. The provision of clear and intuitive signages will go a long way to improve the UX of the students who use the library.