Designing interfaces for faster information processing: Examination of the effectiveness of using multiple information cues

One of the problems studied in human-computer interaction (HCI) research is the design of interfaces that improve user information selection and processing performance. Based on prior research findings this study proposes that information selection can be improved by using multiple, supplementary cues to encode information in interface design. The research is motivated by cue-summation theory. Color and information location are proposed as relevant, supplementary cues that can improve processing performance by enhancing the reliance on a fast and automatic associative processing. Most prior studies examining the benefits of color have not controlled for information location. Our study describes a laboratory experiment in which both color and information location are employed as supplementary cues in a customer account management application. The results suggest that color and location cues significantly improve information selection and processing speed, along with user satisfaction, with the best results obtained when both cues are used.