Eye Tracking Analysis of Public Sector Websites: Highlighting Visual Focus and Usability Indicators
In a recent investigation, researchers used eye tracking metrics to analyse visual attention and perceptions of usability within eGovernment environments. The study focused on public sector websites and compared two specific websites - one with an old design and one with a new design.
The research involved human-computer interaction and visual attention, investigating attention to 16 different visual elements on the selected websites. The initial test involved 8 subjects and 10 different public sector websites with slightly different designs. However, for the in-depth analysis, the study did not repeat earlier test subjects or websites, but focused on the two specific websites for further investigation.
The study's findings suggest potential differences in design impacting user experiences within eGovernment environments. Visual attention patterns often highlight improved user guidance in new eGovernment website designs, where clearer navigation paths and strategically placed content attract more focused gaze and reduce cognitive load compared to older designs, which may scatter attention.
New designs tend to enhance usability by emphasizing key interactive elements and reducing clutter, a factor positively reflected in eye tracking heatmaps and fixation durations, thereby facilitating quicker task completion and higher user satisfaction.
Studies indicate that redesigns aligning with user-centered design principles optimize visual hierarchy, enabling users to locate critical features such as form fields, search boxes, or call-to-action buttons more quickly than in legacy sites. On the other hand, older website versions of public sector portals often show more erratic visual scanning and longer fixation times on navigation distractions or irrelevant sections, impairing efficiency and usability.
The study's methodology involved investigating attention to different visual elements and employing the System Usability Scale (SUS) for investigation. The results showed differences in viewing behavior and visual attention across different designs, as indicated by both eye tracking metrics and usability scores.
The study's conclusion calls for further research into the design of user Web experiences within eGovernment environments. The researchers suggest that future studies should delve deeper into the specifics of old versus new eGovernment website designs, providing more detailed and new empirical eye tracking results.
While the exact retrieved documents do not contain detailed or new empirical eye tracking results comparing old and new eGovernment website designs as of mid-2025, consulting specialized Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) conference proceedings, usability journals, or technical reports focused on eGovernment interfaces is recommended for recent and precise eye tracking study findings in this niche.
The study has highlighted the potential impact of design changes on user experiences within eGovernment environments, using eye tracking metrics as a means to analyze visual attention patterns. Further research in health-and-wellness, technology, and science sectors could investigate the specifics of old versus new eGovernment website designs, providing more detailed and new empirical eye tracking results to optimize user Web experiences.
New eGovernment website designs, aligned with user-centered design principles, have been shown to improve visual hierarchy, making it easier for users to locate critical features, such as form fields, search boxes, or call-to-action buttons, as indicated by eye tracking metrics and usability scores. Older eGovernment website versions, conversely, may lead to erratic visual scanning and longer fixation times on navigation distractions or irrelevant sections, impacting efficiency and usability.
