MOBILE EYE-TRACKING AS A TOOL FOR DETECTING DIFFERENCES IN VISUAL ATTENTION DISTRIBUTION: THE ROLE OF AGE AND DIGITAL COMPETENCE

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of age and digital competence on the distribution of visual attention and perceived usability during interaction with typical mobile application interfaces. A mobile application prototype was developed to conduct the study, implementing eye-tracking using the front-facing camera video stream without specialized equipment. The study involved 55 participants aged 20 to 60, divided into groups by age (below/above 40 years) and level of digital competence. Participant recruitment was conducted via the Prolific platform, ensuring diversity of the sample in terms of nationality and digital background. Participants completed tasks on three representative screens: a product card, a medical results screen, and a navigation map, while gaze metrics and subjective usability ratings were recorded simultaneously. Results indicate that the spatial hierarchy of interface elements is the dominant factor in directing visual attention, regardless of user characteristics. No statistically significant age-related differences were found in objective eye-tracking metrics; however, older participants consistently rated interface usability lower, suggesting that behavioral measures alone are insufficient for a comprehensive assessment of cognitive load. Digital competence influenced interaction strategies: more experienced users first read contextual information before engaging with action elements, which correlated with better interface comprehension. The combination of eye-tracking metrics and subjective ratings proved methodologically productive. The findings informed practical design recommendations regarding the spatial placement of key elements and interface adaptation for different age groups. The proposed approach demonstrates the practical feasibility of mobile eye-tracking for UX research and for design recommendations tailored to diverse user audiences.