Factors Affecting Memory for Dynamically Changing System Parameters: Implications for Interface Design

Abstract

Factors that delimit the performance of human operators monitoring dynamic information are essential considerations for interface designers. Using a procedure pioneered by Yntema and colleagues (1962, 1960), the present research examines the effect of the configuration of visual information (i.e., whether the subject is presented with multiple objects, mapped to a single attribute or multiple attributes mapped to a single object) on subjects' memory for that information. Results suggest that the similarity between bits of information, rather than how the information is organized, is the critical factor in determining memory performance for dynamic information. These results suggest implications for the design of visual displays.