The Mechanics of Interaction

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Cognitive load theory (CLT) is an area of research that provide a solid theoretical foundation for guidelines for constructing e-learning content in a way that enhances learning.

According to the theory, learning will be impaired if the learning content causes a cognitive overload, which is easy because the working memory has a very limited capacity.

Short term memory is no longer referred to as short term memory, new research (CLT) calls it the working memory.

Working memory is required to use a new system until a user becomes an expert and uses long term memory.

The brain consists of different buckets of memory and information and different layers reinforce understanding.

Modality is the concept of learning via multiple mediums. For example, audio and visual content is complimentary and aids learning whereas visual and textual is bad and can lead to a split attention effect.

Cognition

Cognition consists of multiple processes:

• attention – the process of selecting things to concentrate on
• perception – how information is acquired from the environment
• memory – recalling various kinds of knowledge to allow appropriate actions
• learning – how to use a computer based application or the use of a computer based application to learn a topic
• reading, speaking and listening – issues of information, transience, speed etc.

Attention

To maintain or gain attention, information must be made salient when it needs attending to. This can be achieved through the use of animated graphics, colour, underlining, ordering, sequencing and spacing.

At the same time, care must be taken to avoid cluttering the interface with too much information – this will distract and annoy rather than help.

In general, interfaces that are plain are easier to use because it’s quicker for users to find on the screen what they are looking for.

Perception

Representations of information need to be designed to be perceptible and recognisable across different domains.

Icons and other graphics should be readily understandable, while sounds and speech should be audible and distinguishable. Text should be legible and understandable.

Memory

Strive to avoid overloading users’ memories with complicated procedures for carrying out tasks.

Design interfaces that promote recognition rather than recall by using constant menus, icons and objects.

Learning

Interfaces should be designed to encourage exploration while also constraining users and guiding them to select the appropriate actions.

Reading, Speaking and Listening

Keep the length of speech based menus to a minimum and accentuate the intonations of artificially generated speech voices, as they are harder to understand.

Provide opportunities for making text larger on a screen, without affecting the formating.

Related posts:

1. Software Accessibility
2. User-Centered Interaction Design
3. What Is Interaction Design?
4. How Interfaces Affect Users
5. Deductive Reasoning Agents

Tagged as: hci