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Abstract

Ambient notifications are designed to update the receiver without interruption. Can this work? This depends on the perceptual or cognitive resources that a notification would demand of the receiver in order to be effectively noticed. After all, a notification is not a notification if it is not noticed. Nonetheless, a receiver can certainly be updated without be behaviourally disrupted. My research has consistently demonstrated that task-irrelevant environmental sounds can elicit brain responses that underlie working memory updating without compromising steering itself [1]. This response weakens as the steering task becomes more difficult. In other words, it is noticed but less so when the receiver is occupied. It requires resources but it does not demand them. Ambient notifications are designed to operate in a similar way. In this seminar, we heard of light environments that change hue according to the user activity [2], of worn clothing that constricted instead vibrating upon receiving notifications [3], of wall panels that created new environments in response to the user’s brain state, and more. The brain responds to these changes in the environment (hopefully in positive and the intended way) without stealing from the current task.