Reducing cognitive load in textbased communication (emails and messages) on smartphones

Abstract

Information overload (IOL) is a condition that occurs when an individual is subjected to more information than they can effectively deal with. Researchers from across the world are calling for action on IOL as a society-wide problem. The introduction of the smartphone and high-speed mobile internet connections, along with an increased amount of information sources, has made the problem more relevant than ever. Emails along with instant and direct messages have been identified as a source of information which significantly contribute to IOL. The established IOL theory has identified a number of techniques for reducing IOL that can be applied to the design of information systems, but there is limited amount of design research conducted in the field of informatics and digital design. This study employs a concept-driven interaction design research approach to theoretically underpin, design and evaluate a user interface for recipients of text-based (emails and messages) communication on smartphones. Techniques for reducing IOL are merged with design principles and applied to the design of an artefact. The artefact is evaluated through semi-structured interviews to gain theoretical insight. The insights from the evaluation are translated into a set of design recommendations for reducing cognitive load in recipients of text-based communication (emails and messages) on smartphones.

Date of Award	2025-Jun
Original language	English
Supervisor	Montathar Faraon (Supervisor), Michael Johansson (Supervisor) & Martin Wetterstrand (Examiner)