Multimodal,Multitask Interaction Design: A Follow up Study to Challenge Unimodal Design Assumptions

Abstract

Advances in technology are enabling multiple sensory channels to be utilized in presenting information. Nevertheless, the human operator can become easily overwhelmed if an overabundance of information is presented in a non-systematic manner. Current design guidelines are primarily tailored towards unimodal or at most bimodal systems. Thus, the question becomes how to coordinate multiple sources of information in multimodal multitasking environments, and what design guidelines are needed to direct development of such interactive systems. The current study builds on a previous study and seeks to extend unimodal design theories to multimodal principles; it identifies some interesting differences in unimodal vs. multimodal multitask interaction.