Open Verbal Communication with Real-Time Gaze Sharing Improves Team Performance by Reducing Saccadic Activity and Workload

In high-stakes environments like Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations, effective verbal team communication is critical yet often hindered by environmental noise. This study explores how verbal communication and real-time gaze sharing—visualizing a teammate’s gaze through fixation trails—affects team performance. Twenty-four two-person teams completed simulated UAV tasks under three conditions: no gaze sharing with communication, gaze sharing only, and both gaze sharing and communication. Results revealed that combining gaze sharing with communication significantly improved team performance and reduced mental workload. This combination also improved visual attention strategies, as evidenced by reduced saccadic activity and more stable fixations. Participants also reported improved shared awareness and coordination. These findings underscore the complementary benefits of integrating verbal and non-verbal communication tools. By highlighting the value of gaze sharing in complex team settings, this work informs the design of adaptive interfaces that support collaborative decision-making and shared awareness in operationally demanding environments.