Towards the Simplicity of Complex Interfaces: Applying Ephemeral Adaptation to Enhance User Performance and Satisfaction

In interface design of complex information systems, there is a well-known trade-off between transparently communicating all possible user actions, and not creating information overload by only communicating those actions that are relevant for a specific user at a specific point. Differences in user expertise can provide further challenges to interaction design, as no one-size-fits-all solution accommodates all user types. A solution to this is ephemeral adaptation, a symbiotic system in which attention is steered towards relevant items by making them appear immediately, while other items fade in over time. To date, this concept has only been tested in a simple set-up with drop-down menu’s, where the usability outcome measures were measured immediately after initial exposure to the interface. Ephemeral adaptation was applied within complex software, allowing an exploration of its potential value and evaluations on usability over time. Results showed increased performance of novice users, showing potential benefits of ephemeral adaptation.