EyeDE: gaze-enhanced software development environments

This paper introduces EyeDE, a prototypical system enabling gaze interaction for assistance in integrated development environments (IDE). By utilizing an eye tracking device, we have enhanced an IDE prototype with gaze-controlled interaction methods for source code navigation. A qualitative evaluation shows that users welcome the ability to quickly look up documentation or to jump to method declarations just by looking at triggers placed in the code. Although inaccuracies inherent in eye tracking technology and discomforting sitting positions for users impede successful implementation of more advanced IDE features, the interaction paradigm appears to be acceptable within the software development context and seems promising as eye tracking technology is being further improved.