Eye Tracking in Tactical Decision Making Environments: Implications for Decision Support Evaluation *

This paper discusses the use of eye movement monitoring systems in evaluating visual displays to support tactical decision making. A variety of analytic approaches are considered from a conceptual and practical standpoint and applied to preliminary data collected using the TADMUS DSS display. Eye movement data were collected using a head-mounted eye tracking system worn by command-level decision makers (Commanding and Tactical Action Officers) in tactical scenarios using a decision support system in a simulation of an Aegis cruiser Combat Information Center. While results are preliminary and not definitive, prospects for the use of eye movement monitoring systems as tools for evaluating decision support displays are considered good.