Directly Evaluating the Cognitive Impact of Search User Interfaces: A Two-Pronged Approach with fNIRS
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Directly Evaluating the Cognitive Impact of Search User Interfaces: A Two-Pronged Approach with fNIRS
Horia A. Maior,
Matthew Pike,
Max L. Wilson,
Sarah Sharples
EuroHCIR 2013 | 2013
Abstract
Recent research has focused on understanding the cognitive processes involved in interactive information retrieval, with most studies relying on secondary measures of cognition. Our research directly measures cognitive workload using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Among available brain-sensing technologies, fNIRS is particularly suitable for ecologically valid user studies, as it is less affected by body movement and can be worn while using a computer at a desk. This paper presents a two-pronged approach that moves fNIRS research beyond simple psychological tests into real interactive IR tasks while evaluating the cognitive impact of search user interfaces (SUIs).