ESPiM: Eye-Strain Probation Model, An Eye-Tracking Analysis Measure for Digital Displays

Eye-strain is a common issue among computer users due to the prolonged periods they spend working in front of digital displays. This can lead to vision problems, such as irritation and tiredness of the eyes and headaches. We propose the Eye-Strain Probation Model (ESPiM), a computational model based on eye-tracking data that measures eye-strain on digital displays based on the spatial properties of the user interface and display area for a required period of time. As well as measuring eye-strain, ESPiM can be applied to compare (a) different user interface designs, (b) different display devices, and (c) different interaction techniques. Two user studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of ESPiM. The first was conducted in the form of an in-person study with an infrared eye-tracking sensor with 32 participants. The second was conducted in the form of an online study with a video-based eye-tracking technique via webcams on users' computers with 13 participants. Our analysis showed significantly different eye-strain patterns based on the video gameplay frequency of participants. Further, we found distinctive patterns among users on a regular 9-to-5 routine versus those with more flexible work hours in terms of (a) error rates and (b) reported eye-strain symptoms.