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Human Capabilities: Attention

Human Capabilities: Attention. CS352. Attention. Selecting what to focus on, at a point in time, from the range of possibilities. Banner ads steal attention “ pre -brain”. Attention also happens in brain. We focus on what we think is relevant to our task.

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Human Capabilities: Attention

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  1. Human Capabilities:Attention CS352

  2. Attention • Selecting what to focus on, at a point in time, from the range of possibilities. • Banner ads steal attention “pre-brain”. • Attention also happens in brain. • We focus on what we think is relevant to our task. • Attention highly dependent on our limited short term memory (which is small). • HOWEVER -- if didn’t make it thru senses, not a contender. 👁

  3. Brain attention • Can brain multi-task? • No. Mostly attend to one thing at once. • Then ...? • Like in operating systems: Interrupt system, context switch. • Cost of context switch. • Missed triggers. • Thus, UIs should encourage this with care. • Hands-free cells while driving? Emails while in talks/meetings/classes? • Flow? Depth of concentration?

  4. What do people (usually) attend to? 📝 • The task, not the tool. • Ex1: The words you’re writing, not the pencil. • Ex2: The story in the book, not the physical book. • If have to attend to the tool, might forget ... • Ex1: Pencil gets too dull, attend to pencil (sharpen). •  Have system (last few words you wrote) show where you left off. • External cognition saves the day! • Ex2: Doorbell rings, put down book; where was I? •  Let user mark where you left off. (eg, bookmark). • External cognition saves the day!

  5. Implications • People won’t pay much attention to a UI. • Very surface-level attention. • Want to do tasks familiar way (remember Abby?) • UI should allow focus on task, not UI. • “Don’t make me think!” (about the UI) • Pay a bill • Transfer $ to savings • Pay dentist via fund transfer • Change PIN • Open new acct • Buy travelers checks

  6. Demanding Brain’s Attention:Interruptions • When COMPUTER decides to call attention to something. • Four important kinds: • Immediate • For when MUST pay immediate attention. • Mediated • Computer decides when to interrupt. • Scheduled • Negotiaated • Best for productivity AND learning.

  7. Attention Take-aways(Basics for UIs) • Users can’t attend to everything at once. • If info does not make it thru senses, • brain can’t attend to it. • Once in brain: • users attend to what seems most relevant. (Remember Info Foraging Theory?) • User has the right to their own attention. • There is a cost to making them attend to UI. • Do not impose it arbitrarily.

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