In the Eye of the Beholder

Abstract

As the use of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions become more embedded in our everyday lives, ICT graduates are required to design and develop solutions that are not only easy to use, but evoke overall positive user experiences. The incorporation of human-computer interaction (HCI) principles, such as user-centered design (UCD), usability, and user experience (UX) into the design of ICT solutions can positively influence the success of deployed solutions. However, developers of ICT solutions, especially those from developing countries, have been slow to apply these principles in their development practices. Some of the reasons for this slow pace include lack of experienced practitioners due to limited number of universities offering HCI courses, especially in African countries, lack of consensus on the measures of UCD effectiveness, and little appreciation of the benefits of incorporating these design principles into development processes. This challenge is compounded by ineffective teaching strategies, in situations where HCI courses are taught. The application of an experiential learning strategy can go a long way in addressing the gap between the concepts of HCI, UX, and UCD that is taught in the classroom and their application by ICT graduates in the work environment. In this chapter, the authors describe how they incorporate eye tracking technology in an HCI course that forms part of a postgraduate informatics degree. The focus is on an eye tracking assignment that involves student groups performing usability evaluation studies for real-world clients. They posit that eye tracking is a powerful technology to convince students of the importance of user centered design. They conducted a survey amongst HCI students and analyzed student course evaluation results over a period of 3 years. The findings confirm that students regard the eye tracking assignment as a mind-altering experience and that it is potentially an effective technology for convincing future ICT professionals of the importance of usability, UX, and UCD.