Users’ Cognitive Load: A Key Aspect to Successfully Communicate Visual Climate Information

Abstract The visual communication of climate information is one the cornerstones services. It often requires translation multidimensional data to channels by combining colors, distances, angles, and glyph sizes. However, visualizations including too many layers complexity can hinder decision-making processes limiting cognitive capacity users, therefore affecting their attention, recognition, working memory. Methodologies grounded on fields user-centered design, user interaction, psychology, which are based needs have a lot contribute visualization field. Here, we apply these methodologies redesign an existing service tool tailored wind energy sector. We quantify effect users’ experience performing typical daily tasks, using both quantitative qualitative indicators that include response time, success ratios, eye-tracking measures, perceived effort, comments, among others. Changes in encoding uncertainty use interactive elements redesigned reduced time half, significantly improved eased filtering nonrelevant information. Our results show application aspects design reduces load users during tasks performance, thus improving experience. These key successfully communicating clearer more accessible way, making it understandable for technical nontechnical audiences.