MECHANISMS FOR MEASURING AND MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF SOFTWARE EXPERIENCES ON HUMAN CONTEXT-SWITCHING

Smart overview of the Invention

Software experience encompasses a user's overall interaction with software, influenced by various factors such as functionality, device characteristics, user experience level, and design elements. Among these, UI/UX design plays a critical role in shaping user interactions and experiences. However, the impact of UI/UX design on user context-switching—a phenomenon where users switch between multiple tasks or applications—often goes unmeasured, despite its potential to negatively affect productivity and user satisfaction.

Impact of Context-Switching

Context-switching can lead to adverse effects including time loss, decreased attention, cognitive overload, and emotional fatigue. For instance, when a user switches from writing an email to retrieving information from another application, it can disrupt their workflow and diminish their overall efficiency. Frequent context-switching not only affects individual productivity but can also lead to a reluctance to use certain applications due to the poor user experience it creates.

Evaluation System for Context-Switching

A data processing system is proposed to evaluate software applications based on measurable parameters that predict context-switching potential. This system includes monitoring workflows executed by applications and assessing key metrics such as switch distance (the distance between task anchors and secondary contexts), task anchor visibility (how visible task anchors are during use), and user feelings derived from feedback. These metrics are essential for understanding how design impacts user experience.

Machine Learning Integration

The evaluation system utilizes a machine learning model trained to analyze the collected scores—switch distance, task anchor visibility, and customer feelings. By applying learned rules, the model generates suggestions for UI/UX modifications aimed at reducing context-switching. This approach allows for dynamic improvements in application design based on real user interactions and experiences.

Benefits of Context-Switching Evaluation

By implementing a robust evaluation mechanism for context-switching, developers can gain insights into the effectiveness of their UI/UX designs. The correlation between context-switching potential and user satisfaction can inform future design decisions, potentially leading to enhanced user experiences, increased software subscription renewals, and greater overall engagement with applications.