Enhancing Recommendation Interfaces with Interaction Modules: User Study Using Eye-Tracking

We investigated how adding interaction modules—including a category-themed image, slogan, and narrative text—affects user attention during exploratory browsing within category-based recommender interfaces. Eye-tracking data and post-task interviews revealed that the image module captured users’ attention early in the interaction and elicited a visual pairing behavior, wherein users actively searched the product list for items depicted in the image. These findings indicate that semantically rich visual cues can effectively guide user exploration and influence gaze allocation. The results provide empirical support for the design of recommender system interfaces that enhance user engagement through strategically integrated visual elements.