Interruptions,Distractions,and Attention Management: A Multi-Faceted Problem for Human Factors

Abstract

Interruptions and distractions are a serious problem for many tasks, from programming a device to forming a battle plan, and from driving a car to monitoring airspaces. Interruptions and distractions can interfere with short term memory in planning and executing plans, and they can divert attention and reduce processing capacities for the detection and interpretation of significant events in dynamic situations. Attention management across tasks, and even within complex tasks, is a multi-faceted cognitive, perceptual, and social problem for users and display designers alike. The key to improving attention management is understanding the human, task, and environment issues and designing technologies that dovetail with and exploit that understanding. The research presentations in this session delve into several different facets of attention management and interruption. They analyze the issues, develop design principles, and evaluate alternative interface designs.