The effects of dynamic dwell time systems on the usability of eye-tracking technology: a systematic review and meta-analyses
Seamus P. L. Burnham, Sonja Bonar, Mackenzie L. Collins, T. Claire Davies · Human-Computer Interaction · 2025
Eye-tracking can be used by individuals with severe motor impairments as a hands-free access method to computer systems. The traditional eye-tracking selection method employs static dwell times that are held constant throughout a task. The value of this parameter has an inherent speed-accuracy trade-off, with long dwell times being accurate but slow, and short dwell times being efficient but error-prone. To address this usability flaw, emerging research has introduced dynamic dwell time systems that employ either the user or a computer algorithm to vary the dwell time parameter throughout the task. A systematic review was undertaken to determine the modes and mechanisms of dwell time manipulation employed by these dynamic systems and the computer-based tasks they support. From six academic databases, 2765 relevant studies were identified. After removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, and full text screening, four journal articles and eight conference proceedings evaluated dynamic dwell time systems. A series of fixed elements meta-analyses showed that the dynamic dwell time systems were significantly more usable than their static dwell time comparators. Dynamic systems may mitigate the speed-accuracy trade-offs associated with static dwell times. Future research required to further increase the usability of these systems is discussed.