UCLIC Seminar: The effects of computer-based interruptions on cognition, behaviour and task performance: Applications, new frontiers, and challenges

Speaker: Phillip Morgan, University of the West of England
UCL Contact: Aisling O'Kane (Visitors from outside UCL please email in advance).
Date/Time: 25 May 16, 15:00 - 16:00
Venue: Room 405, 66-72 Gower Street

Abstract

Interruptions are a common feature of everyday and workplace settings and are increasing with the charging development of communicative and connected technology ranging from smartphones to fully automated road vehicles. Interruptions divert attention away from a primary task, consume cognitive resources and place demands on memory. They shave hours off working days, increase error propensity and can cause accidents and fatalities. Interruption effects are almost universally negative and include: forgetting suspended intentions, suspended task resumption delays, elevated suspended task completion times, and increased stress. Disruption is greater when an interrupting task takes more than a few seconds to complete and especially when cognitive resources are stretched. During this talk, I will review a concentrated research effort by interruption and distraction researchers spanning more than 30-years that has attempted to unpick the effects of interruptions and distractions on cognition, behaviour, and task performance, including some of my own work from the past 15 years. I aim to provide a somewhat controversial and critical discussion of this work (including of my own studies), suggest alternative ways to measure interruption effects, and provide recommendations on how to better handle interruptions. I will also critically discuss methods that have been developed to mitigate interruption effects (including 'one of my own') and highlight limitations and future directions. Throughout the talk, I will discuss the findings of a range of recent interruption studies from my laboratory (plus work with collaborators) in the areas of patient safety, driving, cyber security, memory and problem solving and involving diverse samples such as healthcare professionals, medical decision makers, military personnel, and of course - university students.

Phillip Morgan

Interruptions are a common feature of everyday and workplace settings and are increasing with the charging development of communicative and connected technology ranging from smartphones to fully automated road vehicles. Interruptions divert attention away from a primary task, consume cognitive resources and place demands on memory. They shave hours off working days, increase error propensity and can cause accidents and fatalities. Interruption effects are almost universally negative and include: forgetting suspended intentions, suspended task resumption delays, elevated suspended task completion times, and increased stress. Disruption is greater when an interrupting task takes more than a few seconds to complete and especially when cognitive resources are stretched. During this talk, I will review a concentrated research effort by interruption and distraction researchers spanning more than 30-years that has attempted to unpick the effects of interruptions and distractions on cognition, behaviour, and task performance, including some of my own work from the past 15 years. I aim to provide a somewhat controversial and critical discussion of this work (including of my own studies), suggest alternative ways to measure interruption effects, and provide recommendations on how to better handle interruptions. I will also critically discuss methods that have been developed to mitigate interruption effects (including 'one of my own') and highlight limitations and future directions. Throughout the talk, I will discuss the findings of a range of recent interruption studies from my laboratory (plus work with collaborators) in the areas of patient safety, driving, cyber security, memory and problem solving and involving diverse samples such as healthcare professionals, medical decision makers, military personnel, and of course - university students.