The effects of layout types, visual features and text labels on icon visual search performance

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Psychology
• Visual Perception

Background:

• Effective human-computer interface (HCI) design is crucial for operational task performance.
• Visual search and guided pointing activities are fundamental to many interactive tasks.
• Understanding how icon design elements influence user performance is essential for usability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of icon layout types, visual features, and text labels on visual search performance.
• To identify specific design combinations that optimize user interaction efficiency.
• To provide empirical data for HCI designers to improve interface usability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized eye-tracking technology to monitor user interactions during operational tasks.
• Experimentally varied icon layout (single row, double row, matrix, circular), visual features (shape, color, borders), and presence of text labels.
• Statistically analyzed task completion time, fixation duration in Areas of Interest (AOI), and fixation count within AOI.

Main Results:

• The absence of text labels, combined with a matrix layout and chamfered square icons, demonstrated a significant improvement in interaction efficiency.
• Specific combinations of visual features and layouts influenced task completion time and fixation patterns.
• Eye-tracking metrics provided detailed insights into the cognitive load and search strategies employed by users.

Conclusions:

• The study provides evidence that a minimalist approach (no text labels) coupled with specific icon shapes and layouts can enhance HCI usability.
• Findings offer practical guidance for designers to optimize icon design during the software prototyping phase.
• This research contributes to the understanding of visual search principles in interactive systems.