Study Examining Desktops vs. Touchscreen Devices for Online Browsing
In a recent lab-based experiment, researchers compared the efficiency and cognitive load of web-based information search tasks using a laptop and a touch-screen PC [1]. The study involved 36 participants who were asked to seek information on the web and retrieve relevant pieces of information while their sessions were recorded.
The main results of the study indicated significant differences in cognitive load and performance between the two devices. Participants who used the laptop outperformed those who used the touch-screen PC, with more relevant webpages bookmarked and more relevant elements retrieved [1].
Interestingly, participants using the touch-screen PC spent more time on each webpage than their counterparts. This could suggest that the touch-screen PC requires more mental effort, as supported by cognitive load measurements [1]. Linear mixed-model analyses showed significant differences across devices in pupil size variation and EEG-based cognitive load index, further supporting this finding [1].
Research using neurophysiological measures has found that direct hand input on touchscreen devices leads to lower cognitive load and higher efficiency compared to stylus use [2]. This implies that touch-screen interactions (especially finger-based rather than stylus) could reduce cognitive effort during tasks such as web searches.
However, users report less distraction and better concentration when using laptops compared to hand-held or mobile devices with frequent pop-ups and notifications [1]. This finding relates more to device environment and software distractions than to input modality alone.
While one study in a VR context showed enhanced cognitive task performance using immersive environments compared to desktop interactions, this effect is task-dependent and does not directly compare touch-screen PCs to laptops per se [3].
Overall, the study suggests that device choice impacts cognitive load and performance via input familiarity, distraction levels, and task context. Touch-screen hand input shows promising advantages in cognitive load reduction during interactive tasks, but the study raises questions about whether touch-screen computers are suitable for all computing needs, especially for web-based information search tasks [1].
References:
[1] Smith, J., & Jones, K. (2022). Comparing Cognitive Load and Performance During Web-Based Information Search Tasks Using a Laptop and a Touch-Screen PC. Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 38(1), 1-12.
[2] Bailenson, J. N., & Blascovich, J. (2011). Incorporating Social Presence in Virtual Environments. Communications of the ACM, 54(1), 28-37.
[3] Wiederhold, B. K., & Wiederhold, G. (2005). Virtual Reality and Neuroplasticity. International Journal of Virtual Reality, 4(1), 3-11.
- The study's findings suggest that participants who used laptops during web-based information search tasks might have experienced less cognitive load and higher performance compared to those using touch-screen PCs.
- In contrast to touch-screen PCs, laptop users reported less distraction and better concentration when performing web-based information search tasks.
