VR experience from data science point of view: How to measure inter-subject dependence in visual attention and spatial behavior

Abstract

Any Virtual Reality (VR) immersive experience inherently allows its subjects to choose their own paths of visual attention and/or spatial behavior. If a VR designer employs any system of attentional cues, they might be interested in measuring the system’s effectiveness. Eye tracking (ET) time series data can be used as a visual attention trail and positional time series data can be used as spatial behavior trails. In this paper we are addressing the issue of measuring inter-subject dependence in visual attention and spatial behavior. We are arguing why recently developed distance correlation coefficient [1, 2] might be both a proper and convenient choice to either measure the inter-subject dependence or test for the inter-subject independence in visual and behavioral data recorded during a VR experience.