Assessing the cognitive load associated with ambient displays

In ubiquitous computing, there is a trade-off between adequate display of information and how the layering of data from multiple devices may result in increased imposition upon cognitive load. An emerging class of ubiquitous technologies referred to as ambient displays aim to reduce this imposition through trading off highly detailed visualisation and notification capabilities in the pursuit of systems which impose low levels of workload. What is yet to be explored in detail is how these systems may impose upon cognitive load in a quantified manner. In response, this study focuses on two research questions: RQ1—What methods may be appropriate in the measure of Ambient Display induced Cognitive Load and RQ2—How does one prototype display contribute to levels of Cognitive Load in a laboratory setting. These questions are investigated through a dual-task measure of cognitive load. A repeated measures within-groups laboratory experiment was conducted where participants were required to complete an n-back task in a display-present and display-absent condition. The n-back task was found to be an appropriate method of manipulating performance in both the primary and secondary tasks, although the presence of the evaluated ambient display was not found to induce additional workload. This is despite participants indicating in a subjective measure that they were able to perceive events visualised on the ambient display.