Method and apparatus for attracting a user's gaze to information in a non-intrusive manner

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for attracting a user's gaze to information associated with a portion of a display in a non-intrusive manner. A method may include determining to attract a user's gaze to information associated with a portion of a display. The method may further include causing presentation of a visual attractant on the display proximate the portion of the display. The method may further include causing presentation of the visual attractant on the display to be ceased in an instance in which the user's gaze is determined to be moving toward the information. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 associating, by a processor, information presented on a portion of a display with a gaze attractant;   determining a focal point of a gaze;   causing presentation of the gaze attractant at a position on the display dependent on the determined focal point and the portion of the display associated with the information;   detecting movement of the focal point of the gaze; and   causing removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein causing removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information comprises:
 determining if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets a condition for removal of the gaze attractant from the display, and   causing, if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets the condition, removal of the gaze attractant form the display.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising determining a first separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the first separation distance is approximately equal to or less than a first pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  further comprising determining a second separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the second separation distance is approximately a second pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein causing removal of the gaze attractant comprises causing removal of the gaze attractant prior to the determined focal point reaching the gaze attractant such that the gaze attractant is presented in a non-intrusive manner. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising detecting that the gaze is directed toward the display. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein causing presentation of the gaze attractant comprises:
 determining an intensity of the gaze attractant to be presented based at least in part on at least one of the following: a distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, an importance level associated with the information, and a number of attempts that have taken place to attract the determined focal point of the gaze to the portion of the display associated with the information; and   causing presentation of the gaze attractant at the intensity.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a second portion of the display where the focal point of the gaze was focused before presentation of the gaze attractant on the display; and 
 causing presentation of a second gaze attractant at a second position that is proximate the second portion of the display. 
 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 associate information presented on a portion of a display with a gaze attractant;   determine a focal point of a gaze;   cause presentation of the gaze attractant at a position on the display dependent on the determined focal point and the portion of the display associated with the information;   detect movement of the focal point of the gaze; and   cause removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information by:
 determining if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets a condition for removal of the gaze attractant from the display, and   causing, if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets the condition, removal of the gaze attractant form the display.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine a first separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the first separation distance is approximately equal to or less than a first pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine a second separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the second separation distance is approximately a second pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause removal of the gaze attractant by causing removal of the gaze attractant prior to the determined focal point reaching the gaze attractant such that the gaze attractant is presented in a non-intrusive manner. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to detect that the gaze is directed toward the display. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause presentation of the gaze attractant by:
 determine an intensity of the gaze attractant to be presented based at least in part on at least one of the following: a distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, an importance level associated with the information, and a number of attempts that have taken place to attract the determined focal point of the gaze to the portion of the display associated with the information; and   cause presentation of the gaze attractant at the intensity.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a second portion of the display where the focal point of the gaze was focused before presentation of the gaze attractant on the display; and   cause presentation of a second gaze attractant at a second position that is proximate the second portion of the display.   
     
     
         17 . Computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code portions stored thereon, the program code portions being configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to:
 associate information presented on a portion of a display with a gaze attractant;   determine a focal point of a gaze;   cause presentation of the gaze attractant at a position on the display dependent on the determined focal point and the portion of the display associated with the information;   detect movement of the focal point of the gaze; and   cause removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to cause removal of the gaze attractant from the display as the detected focal point approaches the portion of the display associated with the information by:
 determining if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets a condition for removal of the gaze attractant from the display, and   causing, if the detected movement of the focal point of the gaze towards the portion of the display associated with the information meets the condition, removal of the gaze attractant form the display.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to determine a first separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the first separation distance is approximately equal to or less than a first pre-determined distance. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the program code portions are further configured when said program product is run on a computer or network device, to determine a second separation distance between the determined focal point of the gaze and the portion of the display associated with the information, and wherein the condition includes an instance in which the second separation distance is approximately a second pre-determined distance.