Eye Tracking to Evaluate Usability with the Older Adults: A Secondary Study

From 1980 to 2021, a significant increase in the global elderly population has been observed, a trend expected to persist until 2050. In this context, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) facilitate various aspects of daily life. Despite existing barriers to older adults using ICTs, studies report an increase in exposure and technology usage within this age group. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the usability of software systems used by older adults. One technique for evaluating usability is eye tracking. However, there is a lack of work compiling studies that report its use for usability evaluation involving the elderly. Our research aims to provide an overview of the use of eye tracking for usability evaluation involving older adults through a Systematic Mapping Study (SMS). We identified six primary studies reporting usability assessments using a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative methods, combining eye tracking with other techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation. These methods offer a comprehensive insight tailored to the specific needs of older adults. The consistency in the number of studies in recent years, except in 2020 and 2023, underscores the importance of incorporating usability considerations and the potential of eye tracking in designing technologies for older adults.