Interface and interaction design: How mobile touch devices foster cognitive offloading

Abstract

A central feature of modern technologies such as smartphones or tablets is that they allow for the externalization of working memory processes (i.e. cognitive offloading). Such externalizations enable their users to perform beyond the limitations of internal cognitive processing. In this experimental study (N = 172), we investigated two determinants of participants' decision to offload working memory processes when using mobile devices. These determinants, interface design (i.e. responsivity in terms of temporal delay) and interaction design (touch-based vs. mouse-based control) of the involved mobile devices altered offloading behavior in a Pattern Copy Task. We observed that participants performing the task with a highly responsive device (i.e. no delay when accessing relevant information) offloaded more working memory processes than participants handling the same device at a lower responsivity (i.e. temporal delay). Further, participants using the device's touch function also offloaded more working memory processes than participants using a computer mouse. These findings were further supported by subjective measures about the easiness, naturalness, and intuitivity when using the device. Thus, our study showed that both interface and interaction design influence metacognitive evaluations of the use of mobile devices and offloading behavior.