R. Hoffmann, P. Baudisch, D. Weld
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This paper evaluated the effectiveness of different cues to help direct a user's attention to a new window to focus on. The intended environment is a system set up that include multiple and large resolution monitors. Because there is so much screen real estate, the user needs this additional help to find the windows they are looking for otherwise it wastes time.
The methods of attracting attention were varied. There were four different frames that would highlight the window, there was a mask that dimmed everything except for the active window, and there were four trails that would lead to the new window.
The most effective method by itself was a trail called CenterSplash. This began in the center of the screen and tapered up to the new window. The tests were measured by the time it took a user to find the new window. When different frames and trails were combined, the best result was the CenterSplash, RedFrame, ShadowFrame, and BubbleFrame amalgam. This was only slightly better than the CenterSplash by itself when comparing times, but it scored much better on a user preference test.
I really think this is a good idea. When you have more than one and really if you have more than two monitors you can quickly get lost about where you need to be looking. You click an option in a program that opens a new window and then you spend the next 10 seconds trying to figure out where this window has appeared. Especially with software that seems to always open menus and new windows on monitor one, regardless of which monitor the program is currently running on. Cool stuff, Windows 8 material.
ReplyDeleteI was just gonna say 'Word.' but as this is an official CPSC 436, I feel the need to elaborate.
ReplyDeleteAs a user of dual monitors (22" x 2), I can definitely get lost sometimes, and would appreciate OS level visual queues to help me a long.