ModeSwitching is a desktop application that helps defend against digital information overload. It was created by Xiaohan Liu for their Capstone project in 2010. The application allows users to create different "modes" tailored to specific contexts or tasks. Each mode can hide or close distracting applications and websites. Users can easily switch between modes and lock modes for certain periods of time to focus their attention. The goal is to help users better manage their attention and avoid distractions online. Usability testing was conducted to evaluate the design. The application aims to address issues of divided attention, procrastination, and compulsion caused by constant digital interruptions and obligations.
1. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Xiaohan Liu
Capstone 2010
Advised by Erik Stolterman & Marty Siegel
2. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
3. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
4. “A weekday edition of The New York Times
contains more information than the average
person was likely to come across in a lifetime in
seventeenth-century England.”
Richard Wurman
5. Information overload by Alvin Toffler: “The difficulty a
person can have understanding an issue and making
decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much
information. ”
6. Imagine you took some photos at a party, and want
to share them with friends later…
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12. “Information consumes the attention of its
recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a
poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that
attention efficiently among the overabundance of
information sources that might consume it.”
Herbert Simon
13. “…distraction is like an epidemic—a cognitive
plague that has the potential to wipe out an entire
generation of focused and productive thought.”
David Meyer
14.
15. “What we take for granted we give up the possibility of
changing or improving.”
Richard Wurman
16. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
17. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
34. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
35. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
46. I want to design a tool to help people be aware of
their working patterns in digital space in a non-
intrusive way, creates different working
environment, and blocks distractions for multiple
applications.
47. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
48. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
56. Persona John
Male, 20
College student
Spends about 4 hours every day
procrastinating, then stays up late at
night trying to finish his work. He is
not satisfied with how much he gets
done everyday.
60. Set up modes
Click the circles below and set up
different modes. Or click on the plus
sign to add a new mode.
Normal Obligatory
61. Set up modes
Click the circles below and set up
different modes. Or click on the plus
sign to add a new mode.
Normal Obligatory
62. Step 1: Applications setup Name mode here
Hide open windows Close applications
you don’t want to see and no re-opening
Tip: Drag icons from the dock to the above boxes
63. Step 1: Applications setup Social Media Free
Hide open windows Close applications
you don’t want to see and no re-opening
Tip: Drag icons from the dock to the above boxes
64. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
Cancel OK
65. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
www.facebook.com
Cancel OK
66. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
www.facebook.com
Cancel OK
67. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
Cancel OK
68. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
Cancel OK
69. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
Type the links below or load from browsers
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.gmail.com
Cancel OK
70.
71.
72. Step 2: Websites managing Social media free
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com
www.gmail.com
www.youtube.com
Cancel OK
74. Switch modes
Switch to a different working mode by
clicking on a circle below:
Normal Obligatory
Current
Social Media Free
75. Switch modes
If you want to lock this mode, drag the
two triangle sliders to select the start and
end time; otherwise, click on ‘Skip’.
8:00am 8:00pm
Now 8:32am
Skip OK
76. Switch modes
If you want to lock this mode, drag the
two triangle sliders to select the start and
end time; otherwise, click on ‘Skip’.
8:00am 11:10am 8:00pm
Now 8:32am
Skip OK
86. Step 1: Applications setup Name mode here
Hide open windows Close applications
you don’t want to see and no re-opening
Tip: Drag icons from the dock to the above boxes
89. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
90. ModeSwitching
A desktop application that defends
against digital information overload
Discussion
Introduction
Research Design & Evaluation
Exemplars
95. Acknowledgements
Erik Stolterman, Marty Siegel, Shaowen Bardzell, Eli Blevis, Jeff Bardzell
Christian Briggs, Yuebo Wang, Matt Snyder
Burr Walker, Chad Camara, Ravikumar Jayaraman, Yujia Zhao, Lynn
Dombrowski, Xuan Wang, Jay Steel, Thalith Nasir, Kevin Makice, Varun
Khanduja, Tim Bowman, Rod Myers, Binaebi Akah, Lorelei Kelly, Dane
Petersen, Seehyun Kim, Sarah Reeder, Heekyoung Jung, Jenny Allen
