Discover how Turkish researchers are using RealEye webcam-based eye-tracking technology to explore visual attention across media, psychology, and political campaigns.
Eye-tracking technology has traditionally required specialized hardware and controlled lab settings. But with webcam-based solutions like RealEye, researchers can now track participants' eye movements remotely, using just a standard computer/tablet/smartphone and webcam. This shift has made eye-tracking more accessible, cost-effective, and easier to integrate into diverse research projects.
One of the research teams using RealEye is from Aydın Adnan Menderes University, where they are exploring eye-tracking in various fields, including deepfake detection, film analysis, and child development. All studies are currently in the statistical analysis phase and are being prepared for submission to high-impact SCI-E and SSCI-indexed journals.
This study focused on a significant issue faced by the over-50 generation in Turkey: deepfake videos used in scams. The authors collected deepfake videos (featuring political leaders like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as artists and economists) primarily shared on Facebook, comparing belief levels across generations. Google’s insights suggest that Gen Z is more resistant to online misinformation, and it was tested with Realeye.
For this study, scenes from Kubrick’s films were selected that center the viewer’s attention, gathering data from 180 participants. The results appear to be significant, and to the authors' knowledge, this is an original study with no existing research on this topic. If you're interested in cinema, you can watch a summary video here:
In these two studies, the eye-tracking research was conducted on press releases from Tesla, focusing separately on visual and content engagement.
Six academics contributing chapters are expected to be published in a book in December. The political behavior of Gen Z voters who supported the two most-voted parties in Turkey was analyzed using eye-tracking data:
As they look to the future, the research teams from from Aydın Adnan Menderes University aim to expand participant pools for the autism and ADHD studies and conduct new research on political campaigns and media literacy.
The studies in Turkey demonstrate how webcam-based tracking can remove logistical barriers while maintaining data quality. These projects were made possible without the need for expensive, lab-based equipment. This approach not only reduces research costs but also enables a more diverse participant pool.
By supporting this type of research, webcam-based eye-tracking can contribute to new discoveries in psychology, media literacy, and education. As the technology continues to evolve, so too will the scope of research that can be conducted remotely.
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