Between seeing and interpreting: fundamental role of Design
Description
This research focus on the study of visual recognition, detection and textual evaluation technology while reading. Through research on eye movements, this research sought to understand the features and applicability of vision-based interaction technologies during user’s attention in reading.
Takeaway
What is involved in these processes is widely recognized as an important ally to the understanding of visual thinking in design.
Abstract
Although "see" is an inherent act in human beings, we give little attention to it. We open and close, we move our eyes without realizing the visual mechanism by which this simulated reality is being operated. Study the visual perception as the approval process of these environmental stimuli, leads us to a vast field of knowledge. Therefore, this research project had focussed only on the study of visual recognition and detection technology during reading.
The study of visual perception promotes the understanding of the human cognitive process and its reception capability, recognition and information processing. Through research on eye movements, this research sought to understand the characteristics and applicability of interaction technologies based on vision: the eye tracking system. With the development of this technology, which capture and accurately records the focus of user’s interest, this device has become an important tool to assess the importance of eye movement in the visual information process. What happens when we face a textual stimulus? How do we recognize a letter, a word or sequences of text? What is reading? In order to better understand how these mechanisms develops, this research had focused on the technology of eye tracking in evaluating the user's attention during the reading process.
What we actually see? How does visual processing work? What is the role of design in this process? The visual system in human beings enables the uptake of environmental information. According to cognitive psychology, humans capture most of the visual information during momentary fixations when instantly the eye focuses. Between these points, the eye moves quickly to register the information into the brain. Scientists know that the human eyes does a series of small, rapid movements known as saccades or jerking, which, separated by fixing intervals, assimilate the information (RAYNER, 1998). The term saccade was created by Émile Javal in 1880, ophthalmology laboratory director at Paris - University of Sorbonne. These movements are important in the vision mechanism because, through them, the image is attached to the retina.
Keith Rayner (1943 - 2015) was one of the most important cognitive psychoanalyst, professor and researcher at the University of California at San Diego and a pioneer in studies of current eye tracking devices in reading. Much of what is known today about this subject, is due to his long years of research in this area. He argued that during the attachment point (which occurs between 200-300ms) the new information is assimilated by our processing system and the mental representation of the meaning of the word is built in our brain (RAYNER, 1978-1998). The eye movement study presents critical points just for being this movement the mediator in this complex sequence of the cognitive process (Rayner, 1983). In his book "Eye movements in reading: perceptual and language processes" he makes clear the connection of eye movement and its importance in the reading process. For designer’s concern, he adds that psychophysical factors, such as shape and size of letters affect performance in reading.