BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
ID:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1498
ENTRY:: September 27, 1996
TITLE:: Cognitive layouts of windows and multiple screens for user 
interfaces  
AUTHOR:: Norman, Kent L.
AUTHOR:: Weldon, Linda J.
AUTHOR:: Shneiderman, Ben
DATE:: August 1986
ABSTRACT:: 
In order to make computers easier to use and more versatile 
many system designers are exploring the use of multiple windows on 
a single screen and multiple coordinated screens in a single work 
station displaying linked or related information.  The designers of such 
systems attempt to take into account the characteristics of the 
human user and the structure of the tasks to be performed.  Central 
to this design issue is the way in which the user views and cognitively 
processes information presented in the windows or in multiple 
screens .  This paper develops a theory of the cognitive layout of 
information presented in multiple windows or screens.  It is assumed 
that users adopt a cognitive representation or layout of the type of 
information to be presented and the relationships among the window 
of screens and the information they contain.  A number of cognitive 
layouts are derived from theories in cognitive psychology and are 
discussed in terms of the intent of the software driving the system 
and congruence with the cognitive processing of the information .  It 
is hypothesized that the particular layout adopted by a user will 
drastically affect the users understanding and expectation of events 
at the human-computer interface and could either greatly facilitate 
or frustrate the interaction.   Ways of ensuring the former and 
avoiding the latter are discussed in terms of implementations on 
existing multiple-window and multiple-screen systems.	
(Also cross referenced as CAR-TR-123) 
END:: UMCP-CSD//CS-TR-1498