Designing for Short Attention Spans
summary
Defines transient vs sustained attention, cites the 20-minute lecture rule and questions the goldfish attention myth, and recommends usability testing and contextual inquiry to measure real behavior. Shows heuristics that matter: default effect (autosave shipped off, organ-donor opt-in differences), naive diversification (offer curated packages like SurveyMonkey), and scarcity tactics (limited-time deals, pre-release bonuses, flappy bird resale). Advises clear affordances, progress indicators, sparing motion, and ethical checks like Apple Screen Time or Nintendo timers to curb overuse.
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chapters (8)
- 0:00Introduction and welcome
- 1:50Understanding attention spans
- 10:22Ethics in attention design
- 17:09Research methods for attention
- 20:25Heuristics and mental shortcuts
- 39:00Tactical design tips
- 44:52Ethical design and user feedback
- 48:05Summary and closing
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