Evaluating the Cognitive Impact of Search User Interface Design Decisions
Max L. Wilson · 2011
The design of search user interfaces has developed dramatically over the years, from simple keyword search systems to complex combinations of faceted filters and sorting mechanisms. These complicated interactions can provide the searcher with a lot of power and control, but at what cost? Our own work has seen users experience a sharp learning curve with faceted browsers, even before they begin interacting. This paper describes a forthcoming period of work that intends to investigate the cognitive impact of incrementally adding features to search user interfaces. We intend to produce search user interface design recommendations to help designers maximize support for searchers while minimizing cognitive impact.