Public transportation plays a vital role in urban mobility, yet designing cabins that enhance user experience remains a challenge. A study by Villanova University researchers used RealEye, a remote eye-tracking platform, to analyze how passengers visually interact with different cabin designs. By examining fixation patterns, gaze entropy, and transition behavior, the study provided actionable insights for improving public transport environments.
H1: Different public transportation cabin designs significantly affect visual attention metrics, including Time to First Fixation (TFF), Fixation Counts, and Gaze Entropy.
H2: Internal factors such as demographic characteristics (ethnicity, gender, frequency of public transport use, and trip purpose) influence the relationship between cabin design and visual attention metrics.
How RealEye Was Used
RealEye served as the cornerstone of this research, enabling researchers to remotely track and analyze participants’ visual attention as they engaged with six distinct public transportation cabin designs. The platform’s webcam-based eye-tracking technology captured real-time gaze points, offering precise data on fixation counts, time to first fixation (TFF), first fixation duration (FFD), and entropy measures.
Study Design
Participants were first directed to a Qualtrics survey to assess their baseline emotional and cognitive states. They were then redirected to RealEye, where they underwent a calibration process to ensure accurate gaze tracking. Within RealEye, participants viewed six different cabin designs, including:
Current Version: A standard train cabin with traditional seating.
Poorly Maintained Cabin: A version with signs of wear and neglect.
Enhanced Version: A modernized cabin with ergonomic improvements.
Biophilic Design: A nature-inspired space with greenery and natural lighting.
Bike-Centered Design: A cabin featuring dedicated bike storage.
Productivity-Focused Design: A workspace-friendly configuration with desks and charging ports.
Each image was displayed for 10 seconds, during which RealEye continuously recorded eye movements. The gaze tracking allowed researchers to assess which design elements captured attention, how visual engagement patterns varied, and whether demographic factors influenced attention distribution.
The study design framework, with blue sections indicating the RealEye platform. The images were presented in a randomized order withinRealEye.
Key Findings
The study uncovered several notable insights:
Alternative cabin designs led to faster gaze orientation. Biophilic and enhanced designs resulted in shorter TFFs, suggesting passengers were drawn to structured and aesthetically pleasing environments.
Entropy measures revealed differences in engagement. The poorly maintained cabin exhibited higher gaze entropy, indicating that participants’ gaze patterns were scattered and unpredictable.
Demographics influenced visual engagement. Non-white participants exhibited reduced fixation durations in both enhanced and poorly maintained environments, highlighting the need for inclusive design considerations.
Infrequent public transport users adapted more quickly to visually enhanced designs. Their faster gaze orientation suggests that thoughtful cabin modifications could attract and satisfy new riders.
Visual comparison of cabin designs used in the study, illustrating a variety of interior layoutsas well as the Areas of Interest Boundary & Heatmaps in different cabin designs; a: Current Version, b: PoorlyMaintained Current Version, c:Bike-Centered Design, d: Biophilic Design, e: Enhanced Version, f:Productivity-Focused Design
Implications for Public Transport Design
RealEye’s eye-tracking provided objective, real-time insights into how passengers interact with transit environments. These findings offer valuable recommendations for policymakers, designers, and transit authorities:
Prioritize biophilic and structured layouts to improve orientation and reduce cognitive load.
Maintain cleanliness and organization to minimize visual clutter and enhance passenger comfort.
Incorporate diverse design elements that cater to different demographic groups to ensure inclusive user experiences.
You can run a similar study!
Follow the steps below to start your own experiment with RealEye:
