Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics

Analyzing visual scan paths, the time-ordered sequence of eye fixations and saccades, can help us understand how operators visually search the environment before making a decision. To analyze and compare visual scan paths, prior studies have used metrics such as string edit similarity, which conside...

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Main Authors: Ricardo Palma Fraga, Ziho Kang, Jerry Crutchfield
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Journal of Eye Movement Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/11207
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author Ricardo Palma Fraga
Ziho Kang
Jerry Crutchfield
author_facet Ricardo Palma Fraga
Ziho Kang
Jerry Crutchfield
author_sort Ricardo Palma Fraga
collection DOAJ
description Analyzing visual scan paths, the time-ordered sequence of eye fixations and saccades, can help us understand how operators visually search the environment before making a decision. To analyze and compare visual scan paths, prior studies have used metrics such as string edit similarity, which considers the order used to inspect areas of interest (AOIs), as well as metrics that consider the AOIs shared between visual scan paths. However, to identify similar visual scan paths, particularly in tasks and environments in which operators may apply variations of a common underlying visual scanning behavior, using solely one similarity metric might not be sufficient. In this study, we introduce a classification framework using a combination of the string edit algorithm and the Jaccard coefficient similarity. We applied our framework to the visual scan paths of nine tower controllers in a high-fidelity simulator when a “clear-to-take-off” clearance was issued. The classification framework was able to provide richer and more meaningful classifications of the visual scan paths compared to the results when using either the string edit algorithm or Jaccard coefficient similarity.
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spelling doaj-art-8f5ff3b4681f44df835ef1b41737dfd72025-08-20T03:03:45ZengMDPI AGJournal of Eye Movement Research1995-86922024-08-0117310.16910/jemr.17.3.4Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metricsRicardo Palma Fraga0Ziho Kang1Jerry Crutchfield2University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaFederal Aviation AdministrationAnalyzing visual scan paths, the time-ordered sequence of eye fixations and saccades, can help us understand how operators visually search the environment before making a decision. To analyze and compare visual scan paths, prior studies have used metrics such as string edit similarity, which considers the order used to inspect areas of interest (AOIs), as well as metrics that consider the AOIs shared between visual scan paths. However, to identify similar visual scan paths, particularly in tasks and environments in which operators may apply variations of a common underlying visual scanning behavior, using solely one similarity metric might not be sufficient. In this study, we introduce a classification framework using a combination of the string edit algorithm and the Jaccard coefficient similarity. We applied our framework to the visual scan paths of nine tower controllers in a high-fidelity simulator when a “clear-to-take-off” clearance was issued. The classification framework was able to provide richer and more meaningful classifications of the visual scan paths compared to the results when using either the string edit algorithm or Jaccard coefficient similarity. https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/11207eye movementscan pathgazeeye trackingair traffic controltower control
spellingShingle Ricardo Palma Fraga
Ziho Kang
Jerry Crutchfield
Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
Journal of Eye Movement Research
eye movement
scan path
gaze
eye tracking
air traffic control
tower control
title Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
title_full Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
title_fullStr Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
title_full_unstemmed Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
title_short Classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
title_sort classification framework to identify similar visual scan paths using multiple similarity metrics
topic eye movement
scan path
gaze
eye tracking
air traffic control
tower control
url https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/11207
work_keys_str_mv AT ricardopalmafraga classificationframeworktoidentifysimilarvisualscanpathsusingmultiplesimilaritymetrics
AT zihokang classificationframeworktoidentifysimilarvisualscanpathsusingmultiplesimilaritymetrics
AT jerrycrutchfield classificationframeworktoidentifysimilarvisualscanpathsusingmultiplesimilaritymetrics