Self-adaptive multimodal-interruption interfaces

This work explores the use of ambient displays in the context of interruption. A multimodal interface was created to communicate with users by using two ambient channels for interruption: heat and light. These ambient displays acted as external interruption generators designed to get users’ attention away from their current task; playing a game on a desktop computer. It was verified that the disruptiveness and effectiveness of interruptions varies with the interruption modality used to interrupt. The thermal modality produced a larger decrease in performance and disruptiveness on a task being interrupted than the visual modality. Our results set the initial point in providing the theory behind future selfadaptive multimodal-interruption interfaces that will employ users’ individual physiological responses to each interruption modality and dynamically select the modality based on effectiveness and performance metrics. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [Information Interfaces...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: IUI
• Authors: Ernesto Arroyo, Ted Selker
• Keywords: Ambient Displays, External Interruption Generators, Interruption Modality, IUI 2003, Software Engineering