Mouse Tracking as a Method for Examining the Perception and Cognition of Digital Maps

Abstract

This article aims to present the authors’ perspective regarding the challenges and opportunities of mouse-tracking methodology while performing experimental research, particularly related to the map-reading process. We briefly describe existing metrics, visualization techniques and software tools utilized for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of experimental mouse-movement data towards the examination of both perceptual and cognitive issues. Moreover, we concisely report indicative examples of mouse-tracking studies in the field of cartography. The article concludes with summarizing mouse-tracking strengths/potential and limitations, compared to eye tracking. In a nutshell, mouse tracking is a straightforward method, particularly suitable for tracking real-life behaviors in interactive maps, providing the valuable opportunity for remote experimentation; even though it is not suitable for tracking the actual free-viewing behavior, it can be concurrently utilized with other state-of-the-art experimental methods.

Application of Parallel Computing in the Analysis of Usability Tests, Under the Mouse Tracking Approach

“…This framework makes use of the Tracking Techniques User eXperience Tool T2-UXT to collect, collate, process, and visualize data obtained from users' interactions. Furthermore, the evaluation of the mouse tracking method is conducted in [31], aiming to explore perception and digital map cognition.…”

OnMapGaze and GraphGazeD: A Gaze Dataset and a Graph-Based Metric for Modeling Visual Perception Differences in Cartographic Backgrounds Used in Online Map Services

“…AI could substantially support the production of personalized maps [32,33]. User data collected utilizing eye tracking or other user response methods (e.g., mouse tracking [34]), can be used as input for on-the-fly map design processes. In this direction, the existence of rich and open-access eye movement datasets is valuable, especially considering that they can serve as benchmarks [35].…”