Reminders, Alerts and Pop-ups: The Cost of Computer-Initiated Interruptions

Responding to computer-initiated notifications requires a shift in attention that disrupts the flow of work. The degree of cost associated with resuming the original task following interruption may be dependent upon such factors as the transition between tasks (was the worker able to consolidate his/her place in the main task before engaging in the interruption?) as well as the nature of the interrupting task itself (e.g., length or complexity). The current paper reviews a number of studies from our laboratory that investigate the effects of brief interruptions to the execution phase of computer-based 5-disk Tower of London problems. The results are interpreted within the theoretical framework of the goal-activation model [1] and suggestions are made for practical applications that may help to minimize the disruption caused.