U.S. patent application number 13/088528 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-23 for method and report assessing consumer reaction to a stimulus by matching eye position with facial coding.
Invention is credited to Daniel A. Hill.
Application Number | 20120046993 13/088528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43858709 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120046993 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill; Daniel A. |
February 23, 2012 |
METHOD AND REPORT ASSESSING CONSUMER REACTION TO A STIMULUS BY
MATCHING EYE POSITION WITH FACIAL CODING
Abstract
A method of reporting consumer reaction to a stimulus and
resultant report generated by (i) recording facial expressions and
eye positions of a human subject while exposed to a stimulus
throughout a time period, (ii) coding recorded facial expressions
to emotions, and (iii) reporting recorded eye positions and coded
emotions, along with an identification of the stimulus.
Inventors: |
Hill; Daniel A.; (St. Paul,
MN) |
Family ID: |
43858709 |
Appl. No.: |
13/088528 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11491535 |
Jul 21, 2006 |
7930199 |
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13088528 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0201 20130101;
G06F 16/5854 20190101; G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/7.29 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/02 20120101
G06Q030/02 |
Claims
1. A method of reporting consumer reaction to a stimulus,
comprising: (a) recording facial expressions and eye positions of a
human subject while exposed to a stimulus throughout a time period,
(b) coding recorded facial expressions to emotions, and (c)
reporting recorded eye positions and coded emotions, along with an
identification of the stimulus.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising (i) repeating steps (a)
through (c) for a plurality of human subjects with the same
stimulus, and (ii) reporting information from which can be
ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least
one recorded facial expression capable of being coded can be
ascertained.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a) through (c) are repeated
for a plurality of consecutive time periods.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording of facial
expressions involves video recording the human subject.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein an eye position is detected and
recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a location
for at least about 50 milliseconds.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein exposure to the stimulus lasts for
a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein facial expressions are coded by a
facial coding technique.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the facial coding technique is
based upon FACS.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein reporting recorded eye positions
comprises superimposing a visual indication of the location of the
recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the stimulus.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein reporting recorded eye positions
comprises superimposing a visual indication of the density of
recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the stimulus.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein reporting coded emotions
comprises reporting a tally of coded emotions as a percentage of
each coded emotion relative to all coded emotions.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein (i) coding recorded facial
expressions to emotions comprises coding recorded facial
expressions to positive and negative emotions, and (ii) reporting
coded emotions comprises reporting at least one of (-) the
percentage of all coded emotions comprising positive emotions, (-)
the percentage of all coded emotions comprising negative emotions,
and (-) an average of positive and negative coded emotions.
13. A report on consumer reaction to a stimulus, comprising: (a) a
visual indication of the eye positions of a human subject while
exposed to a stimulus during a time period, (b) a list of at least
one emotion coded from facial expressions exhibited by the subject
while exposed to the stimulus, and (c) an identification of the
stimulus to which the subject was exposed.
14. The report of claim 13 further comprising information from
which can be ascertained the percentage of human subjects who
exhibited at least one facial expression capable of being coded to
an emotion while exposed to the stimulus.
15. The report of claim 13 wherein a plurality of reports are
provided for a plurality of consecutive time periods.
16. The report of claim 13 wherein the stimulus is a business
stimulus.
17. The report of claim 13 wherein eye positions are visually
indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a location
for at least about 50 milliseconds.
18. The report of claim 13 wherein the subject was exposed to the
stimulus for a period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
19. The report of claim 13 wherein the list of at least one emotion
is coded from facial expressions by a facial coding technique.
20. The report of claim 19 wherein the facial coding technique is
based upon FACS.
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to methods of measuring consumer
reaction to business stimuli.
BACKGROUND
Assessing Consumer Reaction
[0002] Two key terms of importance to companies, their agencies,
and marketing researchers in evaluating the effectiveness of
advertising and other promotional materials are awareness and
consideration. Awareness concerns the ability to ascertain whether
consumers have noticed a stimulus, typically in terms of being able
to recall it later by memory. Meanwhile, consideration concerns the
ability to move the consumer to a point of engaging with the
stimulus in hopes of promoting a sales opportunity. To date,
however, both methods of evaluation have customarily been based on
asking consumers to verbally recount whether they remember being
exposed to a stimulus and whether their attitude toward the offer
has become more positive. Inherent in this approach is the
limitation that people may provide a knowingly false assessment to
appease the interviewer or else may not readily know or be able to
verbalize their response. Furthermore, in the case of awareness
asking a consumer whether they recall a stimulus does not provide
actionable insight as to how precisely they processed the
stimulus.
Eye Tracking
[0003] The phenomenon of visual attention has been studied for over
a century, but it is within the last few decades that advancements
in eye tracking technology have made eye tracking feasible for
business applications. Comprehensive eye tracking involves both the
"what" and "where" of visual attention, which means the gauging of
what specific details within a pictorial object get noticed by
consumers and for what duration, and where in terms of the path the
eye takes in sequentially noticing specific regions of interest
within the pictorial object.
[0004] Means of tracking eye movements to assess awareness have
been practiced by companies using stationary models to test
consumers' gaze patterns. But despite the ability to learn where
the subjects are looking on a real-time, behavioral, and in effect
largely subconscious basis, those practitioners of eye tracking
have been unable to report back to their clients how the test
subjects are responding to the specific objects of their attention
other than through conscious, cognitive, verbalized and generally
after-the-fact summations.
[0005] Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method of
marrying the unique capabilities of eye tracking with a means of
assessing consideration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A first aspect of the invention is a method of reporting
consumer reaction to a stimulus. A second aspect of the invention
is a report on consumer reaction to a stimulus.
[0007] A first embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions and eye
positions of a human subject while exposed to a stimulus throughout
a time period, (ii) coding recorded facial expressions to emotions,
and (iii) reporting recorded eye positions and coded emotions,
along with an identification of the stimulus.
[0008] A second embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions and eye
positions of a human subject while exposed to a stimulus throughout
a time period, (ii) coding and translating recorded facial
expressions to at least one of an impact score and an appeal score,
and (iii) reporting recorded eye positions and at least one of a
coded impact score and a coded appeal score, along with an
identification of the stimulus.
[0009] A third embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions and eye
positions of a plurality of human subjects while each is exposed to
a stimulus throughout a time period, (ii) ascertaining the number
of human subjects who exhibited at least one recorded facial
expression capable of being coded to an emotion while exposed to
the stimulus, and (iii) reporting recorded eye positions and
information from which can be ascertained the percentage of human
subjects who exhibited at least one recorded facial expression
capable of being coded, along with an identification of the
stimulus to which the subject was exposed.
[0010] A fourth embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (ii) coding recorded
facial expressions to emotions when the eye position is fixed upon
the given attribute of the stimulus, and (iii) reporting coded
emotions along with an identification of the stimulus to which the
subject was exposed and an identification of the given attribute of
the stimulus.
[0011] A fifth embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (ii) coding and
translating recorded facial expressions to at least one of an
impact score and an appeal score when the eye position is fixed
upon the given attribute of the stimulus, and (iii) reporting at
least one of the coded impact score and the coded appeal score,
along with an identification of the stimulus to which the subject
was exposed and an identification of the given attribute of the
stimulus.
[0012] A sixth embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
includes the steps of (i) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (ii) ascertaining the
number of human subjects exposed to the stimulus who exhibited at
least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded to an
emotion when the eye position was fixed upon the given attribute of
the stimulus, and (iii) reporting information from which can be
ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least
one recorded facial expression capable of being coded when the eye
position was fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus, along
with an identification of the stimulus to which the subject was
exposed and an identification of the given attribute of the
stimulus.
[0013] A first embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of the eye positions of a human
subject while exposed to a stimulus during a time period, (ii) a
list of at least one emotion coded from facial expressions
exhibited by the subject while exposed to the stimulus, and (iii)
an identification of the stimulus to which the subject was
exposed.
[0014] A second embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of the eye positions of a human
subject while exposed to a stimulus during a time period, (ii) at
least one of an impact score and an appeal score, coded and
translated from facial expressions exhibited by the subject while
exposed to the stimulus, and (iii) an identification of the
stimulus to which the subject was exposed.
[0015] A third embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of the eye positions of a human
subject while exposed to a stimulus, (ii) information from which
can be ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited
at least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded
while exposed to the stimulus, and (iii) an identification of the
stimulus to which the subject was exposed.
[0016] A fourth embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (ii) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (iii) a list of at least one emotion coded from
facial expressions exhibited by the subject when the eye position
is fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus.
[0017] A fifth embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (ii) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (iii) at least one of an impact score and an
appeal score coded and translated from facial expressions exhibited
by the subject when the eye position of the subject is fixed upon
the given attribute of the stimulus.
[0018] A sixth embodiment of the second aspect of the invention
includes (i) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (b) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (c) information from which can be ascertained the
percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least one recorded
facial expression capable of being coded when the eye position was
fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A method of reporting consumer reaction to a stimulus,
comprising: (a) recording facial expressions and eye positions of a
human subject while exposed to a stimulus throughout a time period,
(b) coding and translating recorded facial expressions to at least
one of an impact score and an appeal score, and (c) reporting
recorded eye positions and at least one of a coded impact score and
a coded appeal score, along with an identification of the
stimulus.
[0020] The method of paragraph [0019] wherein recorded facial
expressions are coded and translated to both an impact score and an
appeal score, and both the impact score and the appeal score are
reported.
[0021] The method of paragraph [0019] further comprising (i)
repeating steps (a) through (c) for a plurality of human subjects
with the same stimulus, and (ii) reporting information from which
can be ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited
at least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded.
[0022] The method of paragraph [0019] further comprising (i) coding
recorded facial expressions to emotions, and (ii) reporting the
coded emotions along with the recorded eye positions.
[0023] The method of paragraph [0019] wherein an eye position is
detected and recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on
a location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0024] The method of paragraph [0019] wherein exposure to the
stimulus lasts for a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0025] The method of paragraph [0022] wherein facial expressions
are coded by a facial coding technique.
[0026] The method of paragraph [0025] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0027] The method of paragraph [0019] wherein reporting recorded
eye positions comprises superimposing a visual indication of the
location of the recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0028] The method of paragraph [0019] wherein reporting recorded
eye positions comprises superimposing a visual indication of the
density of recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0029] A report on consumer reaction to a stimulus, comprising: (a)
a visual indication of the eye positions of a human subject while
exposed to a stimulus during a time period, (b) at least one of an
impact score and an appeal score, coded and translated from facial
expressions exhibited by the subject while exposed to the stimulus,
and (c) an identification of the stimulus to which the subject was
exposed.
[0030] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein the report includes
both an impact score and an appeal score coded and translated from
facial expressions exhibited by the subject while exposed to the
stimulus.
[0031] The report of paragraph [0029] further comprising
information from which can be ascertained the percentage of human
subjects who exhibited at least one facial expression capable of
being coded to an emotion while exposed to the stimulus.
[0032] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein a plurality of
reports are provided for a plurality of consecutive time
periods.
[0033] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein the stimulus is a
business stimulus.
[0034] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein eye positions are
visually indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a
location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0035] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein the subject was
exposed to the stimulus for a period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0036] The report of paragraph [0029] wherein the impact score
and/or appeal score are coded from facial expressions by a facial
coding technique.
[0037] The report of paragraph [0036] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0038] The report of paragraph [0034] wherein the location of the
eye positions are superimposed upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0039] The report of paragraph [0034] wherein the location of the
eye positions are reported as a density of eye positions
superimposed upon a depiction of the stimulus.
[0040] A method of reporting consumer reaction to a stimulus,
comprising: (a) recording facial expressions and eye positions of a
plurality of human subjects while each is exposed to a stimulus
throughout a time period, (b) ascertaining the number of human
subjects who exhibited at least one recorded facial expression
capable of being coded to an emotion while exposed to the stimulus,
and (c) reporting recorded eye positions and information from which
can be ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited
at least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded,
along with an identification of the stimulus to which the subject
was exposed.
[0041] The method of paragraph [0040] wherein steps (a) through (c)
are repeated for a plurality of consecutive time periods.
[0042] The method of paragraph [0040] wherein recording facial
expressions involves video recording the human subject.
[0043] The method of paragraph [0040] wherein an eye position is
detected and recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on
a location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0044] The method of paragraph [0040] wherein exposure to the
stimulus lasts for a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0045] The method of paragraph [0040] wherein facial expressions
are coded by a facial coding technique.
[0046] The method of paragraph [0045] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0047] The method of paragraph [0043] wherein reporting recorded
eye positions comprises superimposing a visual indication of the
location of the recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0048] The method of paragraph [0043] wherein reporting recorded
eye positions comprises superimposing a visual indication of the
density of recorded eye positions upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0049] A report on consumer reaction to a stimulus, comprising: (a)
a visual indication of the eye positions of a human subject while
exposed to a stimulus, (b) information from which can be
ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least
one recorded facial expression capable of being coded while exposed
to the stimulus, and (c) an identification of the stimulus to which
the subject was exposed.
[0050] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein a plurality of
reports are provided for a plurality of consecutive time
periods.
[0051] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein the stimulus is a
business stimulus.
[0052] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein eye positions are
visually indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a
location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0053] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein each subject is
exposed to the stimulus for a period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0054] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein the facial
expressions are coded to emotions by a facial coding technique.
[0055] The report of paragraph [0054] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0056] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein the location of the
eye positions are superimposed upon a depiction of the
stimulus.
[0057] The report of paragraph [0049] wherein the location of the
eye positions are reported as a density of eye positions
superimposed upon a depiction of the stimulus.
[0058] A method of reporting consumer reaction to an attribute of a
stimulus, comprising: (a) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (b) coding recorded
facial expressions to emotions when the eye position is fixed upon
the given attribute of the stimulus, and (c) reporting coded
emotions along with an identification of the stimulus to which the
subject was exposed and an identification of the given attribute of
the stimulus.
[0059] The method of paragraph [0058] further comprising (i)
repeating steps (a) through (c) for a number of human subjects with
the same stimulus, and (ii) reporting information from which can be
ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least
one recorded facial expression capable of being coded when the eye
position is fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus.
[0060] The method of paragraph [0058] wherein steps (a) through (c)
are performed for a plurality of different attributes of the same
stimulus.
[0061] The method of paragraph [0058] wherein an eye position is
detected and recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on
a location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0062] The method of paragraph [0058] wherein facial expressions
are coded by a facial coding technique.
[0063] The method of paragraph [0062] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0064] The method of paragraph [0058] wherein reporting coded
emotions comprises reporting a tally of coded emotions as a
percentage of each coded emotion relative to all coded
emotions.
[0065] The method of paragraph [0058] wherein (i) coding recorded
facial expressions to emotions comprises coding recorded facial
expressions to positive and negative emotions, and (ii) reporting
coded emotions comprises reporting at least one of (-) the
percentage of all coded emotions comprising positive emotions, (-)
the percentage of all coded emotions comprising negative emotions,
and (-) an average of the positive and negative coded emotions.
[0066] A report on consumer reaction to an attribute of a stimulus,
comprising: (a) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (b) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (c) a list of at least one emotion coded from
facial expressions exhibited by the subject when the eye position
is fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus.
[0067] The report of paragraph [0066] further comprising
information from which can be ascertained the percentage of human
subjects who exhibited at least one facial expression capable of
being coded to an emotion when the eye position was fixed upon the
given attribute of the stimulus.
[0068] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein a plurality of
reports are provided for a plurality of consecutive time
periods.
[0069] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein the stimulus is a
business stimulus.
[0070] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein eye positions are
visually indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a
location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0071] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein the subject was
exposed to the stimulus for a period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0072] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein the list of at least
one emotion is coded from facial expressions by a facial coding
technique.
[0073] The report of paragraph [0072] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0074] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein the list of at least
one emotion includes a tally of emotions coded from facial
expressions exhibited by the subject when the eye position is fixed
upon the given attribute of the stimulus, reported as a percentage
of each emotion relative to all emotions.
[0075] The report of paragraph [0066] wherein the list of at least
one emotion comprises a listing of emotions grouped as positive and
negative emotions.
[0076] A method of reporting consumer reaction to an attribute of a
stimulus, comprising: (a) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (b) coding and
translating recorded facial expressions to at least one of an
impact score and an appeal score when the eye position is fixed
upon the given attribute of the stimulus, and (c) reporting at
least one of the coded impact score and the coded appeal score,
along with an identification of the stimulus to which the subject
was exposed and an identification of the given attribute of the
stimulus.
[0077] The method of paragraph [0076] wherein recorded facial
expressions are coded and translated to both an impact score and an
appeal score and both the impact score and the appeal score are
reported.
[0078] The method of paragraph [0076] further comprising (i)
repeating steps (a) through (c) for a plurality of human subjects
with the same stimulus, and (ii) reporting information from which
can be ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited
at least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded and
translated when the eye position is fixed upon the given attribute
of the stimulus.
[0079] The method of paragraph [0076] further comprising (i) coding
recorded facial expressions to emotions, and (ii) reporting the
coded emotions along with the recorded eye positions.
[0080] The method of paragraph [0076] wherein steps (a) through (c)
are performed for a plurality of different attributes of the same
stimulus.
[0081] The method of paragraph [0076] wherein an eye position is
detected and recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on
a location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0082] The method of paragraph [0076] wherein exposure to the
stimulus lasts for a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0083] The method of paragraph [0076] wherein facial expressions
are coded by a facial coding technique.
[0084] The method of paragraph [0083] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0085] A report on consumer reaction to an attribute of a stimulus,
comprising: (a) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (b) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (c) at least one of an impact score and an appeal
score coded and translated from facial expressions exhibited by the
subject when the eye position of the subject is fixed upon the
given attribute of the stimulus.
[0086] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein the report includes
both an impact score and an appeal score coded and translated from
facial expressions exhibited by the subject when the eye position
of the subject was fixed upon the given attribute of the
stimulus.
[0087] The report of paragraph [0085] further comprising
information from which can be ascertained the percentage of human
subjects who exhibited at least one facial expression capable of
being coded to an emotion when the eye position was fixed upon the
given attribute of the stimulus.
[0088] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein a plurality of
reports are provided for a plurality of consecutive time
periods.
[0089] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein the stimulus is a
business stimulus.
[0090] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein eye positions are
visually indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a
location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0091] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein the defined period is
a period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0092] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein the impact and/or
appeal scores are coded from facial expressions by a facial coding
technique.
[0093] The report of paragraph [0085] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0094] A method of reporting consumer reaction to an attribute of a
stimulus, comprising: (a) recording facial expressions at least
when the eye position of a human subject exposed to a stimulus is
fixed upon a given attribute of the stimulus, (b) ascertaining the
number of human subjects exposed to the stimulus who exhibited at
least one recorded facial expression capable of being coded to an
emotion when the eye position was fixed upon the given attribute of
the stimulus, and (c) reporting information from which can be
ascertained the percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least
one recorded facial expression capable of being coded when the eye
position was fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus, along
with an identification of the stimulus to which the subject was
exposed and an identification of the given attribute of the
stimulus.
[0095] The method of paragraph [0094] wherein recording facial
expressions involves video recording the human subject.
[0096] The method of paragraph [0094] wherein an eye position is
detected and recorded when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on
a location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0097] The method of paragraph [0094] wherein exposure to the
stimulus lasts for a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0098] The method of paragraph [0094] wherein facial expressions
are coded by a facial coding technique.
[0099] The method of paragraph [0098] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
[0100] A report on consumer reaction to an attribute of a stimulus,
comprising: (a) a visual indication of a stimulus to which a human
subject was exposed, (b) an identification of a given attribute of
the stimulus, and (c) information from which can be ascertained the
percentage of human subjects who exhibited at least one recorded
facial expression capable of being coded when the eye position was
fixed upon the given attribute of the stimulus.
[0101] The report of paragraph [0100] wherein the stimulus is a
business stimulus.
[0102] The report of paragraph [0100] wherein eye positions are
visually indicated when the eyes of the subject remain fixed on a
location for at least about 50 milliseconds.
[0103] The report of paragraph [0100] wherein exposure to the
stimulus lasted for a time period of about 1 to 10 seconds.
[0104] The report of paragraph [0103] wherein facial expressions
were coded by a facial coding technique.
[0105] The report of paragraph [0100] wherein the facial coding
technique is based upon FACS.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0106] FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a set of facial features
suitable for tracking by the ffT.TM. facial feature tracking
software.
[0107] FIG. 2 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0108] FIG. 3 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0109] FIG. 4 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0110] FIG. 5 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0111] FIG. 6 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0112] FIG. 7 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
[0113] FIG. 8 is an example of the report aspect of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING A BEST MODE
Definitions
[0114] As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase
"business stimulus," means both company stimulus and marketing
stimulus.
[0115] As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase
"company stimulus," refers to an item pertaining to the governance,
organization, management, structure, policies, procedures,
work-place environment, etc. of a company. Exemplary company
stimuli include announcements to employees, reporting obligations
of employees, physical location of management relative to employees
reporting to management, lunch break policy, smoking ban policy,
bonus pay policy and procedure, type of work-stations, etc.
[0116] As utilized herein, including the claims, the phrase
"marketing stimulus," refers to an item selected and designed to
(i) advertise, promote and/or enhance the sales or acceptance of a
product and/or service, (ii) advertise, promote, improve and/or
enhance customer recognition and/or the public image of a person
and/or business, (iii) position a product, and/or (iv) enhance
brand identity. Exemplary marketing stimuli include, television
commercials, radio advertisements, print advertisements, billboard
advertisements, point-of-purchase displays, live inquiry such as
questions regarding pricing, questions regarding attitudes and
questions regarding purchasing preferences, store-front signage,
packaging, Yellow Pages advertisements, brochures, literature used
in mass mailings, web sites, individual web pages, store layouts,
interior design of a store, product appearance, product operation,
presentation materials, computer generated virtual shopping
experiences, etc.
[0117] As utilized herein, including the claims, the acronym
"FACS," refers to the Facial Action Coding System originally
described in Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., Facial Action Coding
System: A Technique for the Measurement of Facial Movement,
Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, Calif. (1978).
Overview
[0118] The tracking of facial muscle activity provides a method for
gauging consideration through the degree of emotional buy-in. This
method is commonly known as facial coding, and it typically
involves using either comprehensive facial measurements or
selective facial measurements. Comprehensive facial measurements
include open-ended observations of what is casually seen or direct
measurements such as the Facial Action Coding System ("FACS")
originally described in Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., Facial Action
Coding System: A Technique for the Measurement of Facial Movement,
Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, Calif. (1978).
[0119] The invention provides a synchronized means of assessing the
look and feel responses of consumers to business stimuli in order
to aid companies and agencies as they seek to enhance the
effectiveness of their advertising and general marketing efforts.
The method involves (a) capturing what specifically the test
participants are looking at when they visually inspect stimulus,
typically a marketing stimulus, through the use of an eye tracking
unit, (b) taking the recorded output and displaying it as a series
of diagrams that indicate on an individual or collective basis
where the subjects specifically looked, for how long, and the order
in which they most commonly reviewed the pictorial object, (c)
visually recording facial expressions of a human subject as the
subject is exposed to the pictorial object so as to generate a
chronological sequence of recorded facial images, (d) reviewing the
videotape of the facial expressions in order to detect and record
the expressions using the FACS system or a system based upon FACS;
(e) coding contemporaneously detected and recorded expressional
repositionings to at least one of an action unit, one or more
emotions, or a combination of an appeal value and an impact value,
and (f) reporting what the participants looked at and the
contemporaneously coded data, along with an identification of the
stimulus to which the subject was exposed.
[0120] The method can further include combining the eye tracking
and facial coding results by providing a display of the eye
tracking output in conjunction with the appeal and impact tallies,
the percentage of positive and negative emotions, and/or the
specific emotions felt by the test subjects in relation to the
pictorial object, in general, as well as to specific elements
within the object.
[0121] By synchronizing the real-time readings of both gaze and
facial muscle activity, the opportunity exists for knowing on a
truer scientific basis the relative effectiveness of various
business stimuli in eliciting the desired responses.
The Method
[0122] Capturing Data
[0123] Generally, a subject is recruited for participation as a
member of a sample population, sometimes after responding
appropriately to several qualification questions (e.g., are they a
member of the product target market). The portions of the interview
session that will involve the simultaneously capturing of eye
tracking data and videotape to be used for facial coding analysis
purposes is facilitated by a video camera positioned atop the eye
tracker unit. One possible embodiment of the method is to utilize a
Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker available from Tobii Technology AB of
Stockholm, Sweden. It comes equipped with five miniature cameras
set into a monitor, above and below and computer screen on which
the stimuli are presented. The stimuli will be shown on the eye
tracker unit's screen, causing the participant to look slightly up
and ahead, thus enabling the capture of high quality images of the
participant's facial expressions through a video camera (i.e., a
web camera) while the participants are looking at the business
stimuli to be presented to them. Another option is to mount a
camera on the table or desktop in front of the participant.
[0124] At the start of an interview session, the participant will
take a seat in front of the eye tracking unit and go through a
brief calibration phrases, where a series of red dots are shown on
screen and the participant is asked to focus on each dot, in turn,
to ensure that the machine is tracking their eye gaze accurately.
Once that exercise is complete, the testing session can begin.
[0125] The participant is then exposed to the stimuli on the eye
tracking unit screen (i.e., a business stimuli). The exposure is
likely to be for a specific timed duration, with the stimuli either
shown in a set order or in randomized fashion. During the exposure
period, the camera will be on so as to record the participant's
non-verbal, facial response to the stimulus the participants are
experiencing. Questions or ratings may or may not occur between the
exposure periods for the variety of stimuli to be shown as part of
the testing session. Whatever the procedure, care should be taken
to ensure that the procedure of presenting the stimuli does not
distract or inhibit the participant's natural responses to the
experience more so than necessary.
[0126] Upon completion of the session (i.e., exposure to the entire
collection of stimuli) the videotape is shut off and the
participant dismissed. Preferably, the session is repeated for
about 10 to 200, preferably about 20 to 100 participants.
[0127] Data Generation
[0128] Eye tracking output is based on securing gaze fixations. For
example, output from a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker shows a blue
dot for individual output anytime a person has observed a specific
detail in the pictorial object for at least 50 milliseconds. That
threshold is used because research indicates that a person needs a
gaze of at least that duration to be able to process a visual
element, whether that element consists of words (text), an image or
some combination thereof. The blue dot will increase in size to the
extent that the stabilized gaze duration exceeds the 50 millisecond
threshold. A gaze duration that reaches that threshold is referred
to as a fixation. A second output at the individual level consists
of blue tracer lines that indicate saccades, or rapid eye scans
that don't reach the 50 millisecond threshold. The tracer lines or
saccades are useful in indicating the path or flow the eye is
taking in assessing the pictorial object.
[0129] Once a plurality of individual subjects have been tested and
their eye tracking data captured, "hot spot" map(s) can be
generated that show where on the pictorial element the subjects
collectively concentrated their gaze the most. Thus for example, a
print ad may be coded with a dark red hot spot that indicates that
a majority of the gaze durations, or fixations, were devoted to the
key visual image dominating the middle of the screen. A green spot
on the company's logo can indicate that a much less dense mass of
gaze durations were devoted to the company sponsoring the ad.
Stimuli which changes during the testing period (e.g., a TV spot) a
hot spot map may be generated frame-by-frame or second-by-second
throughout the testing period.
[0130] At the same time, consumer reaction to the stimulus is
assessed utilizing facial coding (e.g., FACS), to obtain
information about the emotional response to what the subjects are
viewing. This assessment may be done manually or automated through
the use of a computer, typically involving a series of viewing
periods each as short as 1/30.sup.th of a second.
[0131] The review may involve a variety of approaches, including:
(a) a computer that detects instances where there is sufficient
facial muscle activity to suggest a codeable event, with a manual
review and coding of the activity during such detected instances
using the FACS system, (b) a fully computerized system in which the
videotape of the session can be analyzed by software having facial
feature tracking capabilities, whereby expressional repositioning
of selected facial features by the participant in the videotape can
be automatically detected and recorded, and (c) a manual review of
the videotape, for the same purpose of assessing whether
significant facial muscle activity occurs that can then be coded
using the FACS system.
[0132] Software with facial feature tracking capabilities is
commercially available from Neven Vision, Inc. of Santa Monica,
Calif. under the designations ffT.TM. (facial feature tracking). A
preferred set of facial features suitable for tracking by the
ffT.TM. facial feature tracking software is described in Table Two
below and depicted in FIG. 1. This preferred set of facial features
allows the detection of facial feature movements (FFMs) suitable
for coding to action units (AUs), Emotions, Emotional Values, and
Appeal and Impact Values suitable for use in the present
invention.
[0133] Facial Coding Analysis
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE TWO FACIAL FEATURES FACIAL FEATURE NUMBER
LOCATION DESCRIPTION FF1 Outer Edge of Brow FF2 Middle of Brow FF3
Inner Edge of Brow FF4 Outer Edge of Eye FF5 Lower Edge of Eye FF6
Inside Edge of Eye FF7 Bridge of Nose FF8 Tip of Nose FF9 Lateral
Sides of Nose FF10 Area Below Each Nostril FF11 Outside Edges of
Mouth FF12 Left and Right Medial Points on Upper Lip FF13 Center of
Upper Lip FF14 Left and Right Medial Points on Lower Lip FF15
Outside Edge at Center of Lower Lip FF16 Inside Edge at Center of
Lower Lip
[0134] The software can conduct a computerized comparison of the
facial position of each of the selected facial features through
sequential facial images and automatically code contemporaneously
detected and recorded expressional repositionings to at least one
of an AU, one or more Emotions and Emotional Values, or a
combination of an Appeal Value and an Impact Value (A&I Values)
in accordance with a coding and translation system, such as the
specific coding system set forth below.
[0135] Optionally, but preferably, the software notes the location
of any detected smile (i.e., facial expression involving upward and
outward movement of one or both corners of mouth (nodes 11)) so
that a trained individual can quickly locate occurrences of a smile
on the videotape, manually view the smile, categorize the smile as
a true smile (expansive smile that also may include crow's feet
around the eyes and the relaxation of the muscle circling the eye
such that the eye acquires the tell-tale glint or "twinkle" of
joy), a robust social smile involving only the lower part of the
face, a weak social smile also involving only the lower part of the
face and not as uplifted as a robust social smile, or a micro-smile
(on one side of the face only and more briefly), and input such
categorization data into the computer system for use in coding. An
optional smile category is skepticism (a social smile that is
accompanied by a negative or sarcastic comment, such that the smile
"masks" a negative response).
[0136] Detected and reported FFMs can be automatically coded to AUs
by a computer in accordance with a predetermined code, such as that
set forth in Table Three.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE THREE CODING OF FACIAL FEATURE MOVEMENT (FFM)
TO AU FACIAL FEATURE ACTION MOVEMENT UNIT NUMBER DIRECTION AU1 FF3
Up AU2 FF1 Up AU4 FF2 Down and/or FF3 In AU5 FF5 Up or Down AU6 FF1
Down and/or FF5 Together AU7 FF5 Together AU9 FF9 Up & Out or
FF9 & FF12 Up/Up AU10 FF10 Wider and/or FF12 Up AU11 FF10 Wider
AU12U FF11 Up & Out (one) AU12F FF11 Up & Out (both) AU14
FF11 Slight Out & Down and FF16 Tighter AU15 F11 Down AU16 FF14
Down and FF15 Down AU17 FF13 Up and FF15 Up AU20 FF10 Down &
Out and/or FF11 Down & Wider AU22 FF11 Closer and FF16 Wider
AU23 FF11 Closer and FF16 Tighter AU24 FF16 Tighter AU26 FF16 Wider
AU27 FF11 Closer and FF16 Widest
[0137] Translating
[0138] Coded AUs can be translated to Emotions and Emotional Values
by a computer in accordance with a predetermined correlation
system, such as that set forth in Table Four. Since AU12F can
translate for more than one set of Emotions and Emotional Values,
additional information is required. A true smile is identified as
AU12T and translates as set forth in Table Four. A robust social
smile is an AU12R and translates as set forth in Table Four. A weak
social smile is an AU12W. A social smile accompanied by a negative
or sarcastic comment is an AU12S and translates as set forth in
Table Four. A unilateral micro smile is an AU12U and translates as
set forth in Table Four. The additional information necessary to
determine with a coded AU12F as an AU12T, AU12R, AU12W or an AU12S
can be manually input into the computer by a trained individual
after viewing that segment of the videotape corresponding to the
coded AU12F and observing whether the AU12F is expansive and
involving the eyes, full, less robust, or perhaps accompanied by a
negative or sarcastic comment.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE FOUR CORRELATION OF AUS TO EMOTION(S) EMOTION
ACTION WEIGHTED UNIT TYPE VALUE AU1 Fear 0.50 Sadness 0.25 Surprise
0.25 AU2 Fear 0.33 Surprise 0.67 AU4 Anger 0.34 Fear 0.33 Sadness
0.33 AU5 Anger 0.34 Fear 0.33 Surprise 0.33 AU6 Sadness 1.00 AU6 +
AU12 True Smile 1.00 (AU12T) AU7 Anger 1.00 AU9 Disgust 1.00 AU10
Anger 0.33 Disgust 0.67 AU11 Sadness 1.00 AU12U Micro Smile 1.00
AU12R Robust Social 1.00 Smile AU12W Weak Social 1.00 Smile AU12S
Skepticism 1.00 AU14 Disgust 1.00 AU15 Disgust 0.50 Sadness 0.50
AU16 Disgust 1.00 AU17 Anger 0.34 Disgust 0.33 Sadness 0.33 AU20
Fear 1.00 AU22 Anger 1.00 AU23 Anger 1.00 AU24 Anger 1.00 AU25
Disgust 0.25 Sadness 0.25 Anger 0.25 Fear 0.25 AU26 Anger 0.20 Fear
0.20 Disgust 0.20 Sadness 0.20 Surprise 0.20 AU27 Fear 0.50
Surprise 0.50
[0139] Alternatively, the computer can be programmed to bypass the
step of coding FFMs to AUs and simply code the FFMs directly to
Emotions and Emotional Values when this correlation is known.
[0140] Translated Emotions and Emotional Values may be further
translated into A&I Values by a computer in accordance with a
predetermined correlation system, such as that set forth in Table
Five.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE FIVE CORRELATION OF EMOTION(S) TO A&M
VALUES A&I COEFFICIENTS EMOTION IMPACT APPEAL AU1 0.2 to 0.6 0
to -0.5 AU2 0.2 to 0.6 0 to -0.5 AU4 1.5 to 2.0 -1.0 to -1.5 AU5
1.0 to 1.5 0 to -0.5 AU7 1.0 to 1.5 -0.5 to -1.0 AU9 0 to -0.5 0 to
0.5 AU10 0 to 0.5 0.5 to 1.0 AU11 0.5 to 1.0 0 to 0.5 AU12T 0.5 to
1.0 0 to 0.5 AU12R 0.5 to 1.0 0 to 0.5 AU12W 1.5 to 2.0 1.0 to 1.5
AU12M 0.5 to 1.0 0.2 to 0.6 AU12S 2.0 to 2.5 -0.5 to -1.0 AU14 1.0
to 1.5 -1.0 to -1.5 AU15 1.0 to 1.5 -0.5 to -1.0 AU16 1.5 to 2.0
-0.5 to -1.0 AU17 1.0 to 1.5 -0.5 to -1.0 AU20 1.5 to 2.0 -1.5 to
-2.0 AU22 1.5 to 2.0 -1.5 to -2.0 AU23 1.5 to 2.0 -1.0 to -1.5 AU24
1.0 to 1.5 -0.5 to -1.0 AU25 0.5 to 1.0 0 to -0.5 AU26 1.0 to 1.5 0
to -0.5 AU27 1.5 to 2.0 -0.5 to -1.0
[0141] Alternatively, the computer can be programmed to bypass the
step of coding FFMs to AUs and/or translating coded AUs to Emotions
and Emotional Values and simply code FFMs directly to A&I
Values when this correlation is known.
[0142] For display purposes, including presentation to clients, it
may be the preferred mode to translate each of the FACS emotions
into more business-friendly terms. Thus among the negative
emotions, disgust becomes dislike; anger becomes frustration; and
fear becomes anxiety.
[0143] Reporting
[0144] A number of reporting options exists for representing the
data. Briefly, the Emotional Values and/or A&I Values may be
reported for each participant, segmented groups of the participants
(e.g., men v. women or those who had purchased the advertised
product before v. those who had not purchased the advertised
product before) or all participants. The Emotional Values and/or
A&I Values may also be reported at selected time intervals
(e.g., every second), at selected points in the session (e.g., one
report during viewing of the stimulus and another report during the
interview), or the entire session. Several exemplary options of
specific types of reports include specifically, but not
exclusively, (i) reporting the data separately for each individual
stimuli, (ii) reporting the data for a plurality of stimuli in
comparative form, (iii) reporting the data separately for each
member of the sample population, (iv) graphically reporting the
average appeal and impact values with each score forming an axis of
the graph, (v) graphically reporting the average appeal and impact
values for only a selected portion of the exposure period (e.g.,
the first two seconds of exposure to the business stimuli, the
reaction to a specific question, etc.), (vi) graphically reporting
the average appeal and impact values for a plurality of distinct
portions of the exposure period together on the same graph (e.g.,
scores during exposure to the business stimuli and scores during
questioning), (vii) graphically reporting the appeal and impact
values for each participant to ascertain the distribution of the
participants, (viii) graphically reporting the percentage of each
emotional value, (ix) graphically reporting the percentage of each
coded emotion relative to all coded emotions, by percentage or
otherwise; (x) graphically reporting the percentage of positive and
negative emotions.
[0145] Another reporting option is reporting the level of emotional
engagement. Essentially, the goal here is to indicate the degree to
which the sampled participants had a discernible emotional response
to the stimuli for which gaze attention is being recorded, using a
FACS based system. Thus, the preferred embodiment is to record the
percentage of participants who had at least one emotional response
based on at least one discernable AU being detected and recorded
per participant, regardless of the overall volume of AU's by the
participant. Other methods could include: (a) recording the overall
volume of AU's for comparative purposes against other stimuli, or
(b) recording the average number of AU's discernable by all
participants who had at least AU recorded.
[0146] Utility
[0147] Combining eye tracking output with a facial coding system,
especially when it includes a unique scoring system for determining
the extent to which consumers are impacted by a business stimulus
and whether such impact was favorable or unfavorable, provides a
truer scientific means of gauging awareness and consideration
effectiveness. Such a presentation of consumer reaction facilitates
the decision making process for companies and agencies seeking to
make judgments about how best to enhance the effectiveness of their
marketing efforts.
[0148] To further enhance the usefulness of the data, the stimuli
can be placed within a comparative or even directly competitive
context when desired. Use of the method with competing stimuli can
be evaluated, providing not only a summary of the eye tracking and
facial coding behavioral responses but also a comparison between
two stimuli performances, revealing subtle differences. Use of the
method enhances the ability of a company to tailor product and
marketing efforts to existing and prospective customers.
[0149] The method possesses several advantages, including: (1) the
ability to capture the subtle, otherwise undetectable ways in which
our bodies register and reflect our actions and emotions, (2) the
ability to capture subconscious behavioral responses to stimuli
beyond what might be otherwise consciously known and verbally
acknowledged, (3) the ability to practice real-time and
frame-by-frame assessment of responses during the initial
experience of a stimulus, (4) the ability to conduct the study in
an unobtrusive and non-invasive manner, and (5) an objective based
scientific system for monitoring gaze attention and emotional
responses which is more accurate and precise than subjective
reports.
[0150] The method can be usefully and successfully employed in
connection with substantially any stimuli, finding excellent
commercial application to business stimuli, including specifically,
but not exclusively, television advertising, movie trailers,
customer service dynamics, signage, uniforms, vehicles, print ads,
direct mail, product packaging and design, point of purchase
displays, actual packaged or unpackaged products, store
environments, corporate lobbies, logos, brand names, taglines,
catalogs, entire web sites, individual web pages, Power Point.TM.
presentations, company announcements, etc.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Eye Fixation Raw Data
[0151] A participant was exposed to a stimuli depicted on a
computer monitor set at a screen resolution of 1024.times.768. The
eye movements were captured using a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker.
Minimum duration of fixation was set at 50 milliseconds. The time,
duration and location of detected fixations are reported in TABLE
SIX below.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE SIX PIXEL ELAPSED TIME DURATION LOCATION
FIXATION # (milliseconds) (milliseconds) X Y 1 67 100 489 310 2 286
100 296 360 3 964 60 490 324 4 1343 80 486 328 5 2739 60 404 277 6
2858 100 402 273 7 3117 80 508 447 8 4593 100 517 345 9 5270 60 484
381 10 5390 100 484 377 11 6008 120 470 391 12 6267 60 500 341 13
7065 60 518 385 14 7244 80 516 387 15 7802 60 428 270 16 8121 60
572 394 17 8400 100 573 395 18 8819 60 436 266 19 9019 80 606 352
20 9317 80 433 284 21 9517 80 435 281 22 9716 80 438 287 23 10394
100 528 281 24 10733 60 524 288 25 10853 80 523 290 26 11052 80 567
291 27 11530 80 548 321 28 11630 100 575 325 29 11850 80 574 324 30
12049 80 553 380 31 12687 80 518 349 32 13644 120 428 337 33 14062
120 332 382 34 14421 179 371 365 35 15378 60 594 320 36 15797 60
483 341 37 16176 60 512 345 38 16335 80 515 350 39 16475 60 509 346
40 17771 100 439 288 41 18030 80 431 334 42 19126 119 680 341 43
19964 80 307 207 44 20342 60 463 337 45 20522 119 529 360 46 20921
120 526 362 47 21260 80 483 264 48 21658 119 470 263 49 22316 80
556 381 50 22515 159 529 272 51 24429 80 524 376 52 24669 80 483
259 53 24848 80 483 264 54 25067 80 432 370 55 25386 80 513 307 56
25526 60 513 308 57 25944 60 520 276 58 27001 80 514 314 59 27500
80 560 322 60 28397 60 519 359 61 28596 119 490 344 62 29134 82 501
203 63 29373 80 494 192 64 29872 80 473 299 65 30869 80 486 349 66
31507 160 481 362 67 31726 60 483 359 68 32523 60 524 534 69 33261
60 520 444 70 33740 80 466 575 71 33939 60 361 545 72 34059 100 358
541 73 34497 179 493 326 74 34697 60 494 384
Example 2
Eye Fixation Map
[0152] A participant was exposed to a stimuli depicted on a
computer monitor. The eye movements were captured using a Tobii
Model 1750 Eye Tracker. Minimum duration of fixation was set at 50
milliseconds. The initial saccade and first detected fixation point
are shown in FIG. 2 as a gray line and gray dot respectively,
superimposed on the stimuli.
Example 3
Report with Eye Fixation Spots Map and Emotions
[0153] About thirty five participants were each exposed to a
television spot, in each case for a duration of 30 seconds. The eye
movements were captured using a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker. The
faces of the participants were also videotaped during the 30 second
exposure period. The eye tracking output consisted of a dot map for
each second of the television spot, with dots showing where the
participants directed most of their gaze attention and dot size
representing duration of fixation and number of participants. The
videotape of each participant was analyzed using FACS. The top
three coded emotions, by percentage of activity elicited by the
television spot, was displayed alongside each dot map. One of the
resultant reports is depicted in FIG. 3.
Example 4
Report with Eye Fixation Gaze-Density Map and Emotions
[0154] About thirty five participants were each exposed to a
television spot, in each case for a duration of 30 seconds. The eye
movements were captured using a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker. The
faces of the participants were also videotaped during the 30 second
exposure period. The eye tracking output consisted of a hot spot
map for each second of the television spot with a variation in
color intensity and/or color selection depicting where the
participants directed most of their gaze attention. The videotape
of each participant was analyzed using FACS. The percentage of
positive and negative facial coding activity, as well as the top
three coded emotions by percentage of activity elicited by the
television spot was displayed alongside the hot spot gaze-density
map. The resultant report is depicted in FIG. 4.
Example 5
Report with Eye Fixation Gaze-Density Map, Eye Fixation % Table and
Emotions
[0155] About thirty five participants were each exposed to a print
ad, in each case for a duration of 10 seconds. The eye movements
were captured using a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker. The faces of
the participants were also videotaped during the 10 second exposure
period. The eye tracking output consisted (i) of a single hot spot
gaze-density map showing where the participants directed most of
their gaze attention, and (ii) a table listing number of eye
fixations and/or cumulative eye fixation duration as a % of the
total number of eye fixations and/or eye fixation duration, for
various areas of interest on the print ad input into the eye
tracking system. The videotape of each participant was analyzed
using FACS. The top two coded emotions by percentage of activity
elicited by the print ad was displayed alongside the hot spot
gaze-density map and eye fixation table. The resultant report is
depicted in FIG. 5.
Example 6
Report with Eye Fixation Gaze-Density Map and Graph of Impact and
Appeal
[0156] About fifteen participants were each exposed to a video of
the interior design of a store, in each case for a duration of 60
seconds. The eye movements were captured using a Tobii Model 1750
Eye Tracker. The faces of the participants were also videotaped
during the 60 second exposure period. The eye tracking output
consisted of second-by-second hot spot gaze-density maps of the
in-store video, showing where the participants directed most of
their gaze attention during that second. The videotape of each
participant was analyzed using FACS. The Impact and Appeal scores
elicited by the in-store video during the exposure period was
determined and displayed on a chronological graph. The report
consists of a second-by-second display of the hot spot gaze-density
maps, along with a sliding line on the Impact and Appeal graph
indicating the time at which the currently displayed hot spot
gaze-density map occurred. The report at one point in time is
depicted in FIG. 6.
Example 7
Report with Eye Fixation Gaze-Density Map and Graph of Average
Emotional Response
[0157] About fifteen participants are each exposed to a video of
the interior design of a store, in each case for a duration of 60
seconds. The eye movements are captured using a Tobii Model 1750
Eye Tracker. The faces of the participants are also videotaped
during the 60 second exposure period. The eye tracking output
consists of second-by-second hot spot gaze-density maps of the
in-store video, showing where the participants directed most of
their gaze attention during that second. The videotape of each
participant is analyzed using FACS. The sum of positive and
negative facial coding activity elicited by the in-store video
during each second of the exposure period is determined and
displayed on a chronological graph. The report consists of a
second-by-second display of the hot spot gaze-density maps, along
with a sliding line on the positive and negative emotional graph
indicating the time at which the currently displayed hot spot
gaze-density map occurs. The report at one point in time is
depicted in FIG. 7.
Example 8
Report of Average Emotional Response
[0158] About two hundred and forty participants grouped into
Segment 1 and Segment 2 based upon personality type, were each
exposed to eight different stimuli of various types for various
durations ranging from a duration of about 10 seconds for a print
ad to about 120 seconds for a booklet. The eye movements of thirty
five of the participants were captured when viewing stimuli 1-3 and
5-7 using a Tobii Model 1750 Eye Tracker. The faces of all two
hundred and forty participants were also videotaped during the
exposure periods. The eye tracking output consisted of hot spot
gaze-density maps for stimuli 1-3 and 5-7 showing where the thirty
five participants directed most of their gaze attention. The
videotape of all two hundred and forty participants was analyzed
using FACS. The percentage of participants in each segment who
demonstrated an emotional engagement with the stimuli is
represented as a bar graph on the report depicted in FIG. 8.
* * * * *