{"id":5998,"date":"2023-08-18T18:16:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T18:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solutionstreet.com\/blog\/?p=5998"},"modified":"2023-08-23T20:23:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T20:23:14","slug":"cognitive-load","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solutionstreet.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/18\/cognitive-load\/","title":{"rendered":"Cognitive Load"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As software developers, we have to consider many factors when building a system. Identifying limitations at an early stage is crucial to ensure the success of our product: Native or web application? Accessible on small-screen devices? Deployed locally or on the cloud?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answers to those questions help make vital decisions about system architecture and technology stack. But, do we ever consider the most important limiting factor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Brain<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Imagine you\u2019re working on your computer, finishing a slide deck for your presentation. As you work on those slides, your brain isn’t just focused on processing information. It’s also constantly detecting sounds and peripheral visuals in your surroundings, determining which ones require your attention and which ones can be disregarded. Random ideas pop into your head, memories of recent events, remembering that you need to buy milk. Email and instant message notifications pop up on your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\ude29 Staying focused is an effort in itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humans possess a limited amount of mental resources to allocate to any task. Once these resources are exceeded we typically become overwhelmed or give up. This concept is called cognitive load<\/em>: the mental effort needed to comprehend, make decisions, and complete a task<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, brains cannot be upgraded (yet). As developers, we must cater to the cognitive boundaries of our users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of Cognitive Load<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

To better understand and manage cognitive load it is essential to comprehend the two types that have a greater impact: Intrinsic and Extraneous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intrinsic Load<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any mental resources allocated to stuff that helps users achieve their goals. For example, the effort to comprehend different slide layouts for your presentation, deciding what to put on a bullet list, and showing the presentation to an audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extraneous Load<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any mental resources allocated to stuff non-conducive to help users achieve their goals. For example, searching the presentation file in a complicated folder structure, looking for a specific tool in a cluttered toolbar, and keeping track of different browser windows used for research and image lookup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As developers, we should strive to minimize both intrinsic and extraneous loads. What can we do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep it Simple<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

There are several strategies we can follow to provide users with a better experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Visual Clutter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If it distracts the eye, it is going to distract the brain. Simplify interfaces by reducing visual clutter and unnecessary elements that can slow down a user trying to complete a task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n