Integrating Mobile Eye-Tracking and VSLAM for Recording Spatial Gaze in Works of Art and Architecture

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for spatial eye-tracking for use with three-dimensional objects and environments. By integrating mobile eye-tracking (MET) with Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) technologies, the study provides an unobtrusive technique for capturing an individual’s gaze across an open space and through an unprescribed viewing path. The included proof-of-concept is tested against three scales, from a large sculpture to a set of towering cement kilns and an exterior building passage. Demonstrations show that the integration of MET and VSLAM provides a useful tool for testing scenarios without predefined viewing conditions and allowing insight into how others view works of art and architecture.