Subliminal Communication in Human-Computer Interaction

The research presented in this special issue focuses on subliminal techniques to improve human-computer interaction. Human- and computer-based interactions are ubiquitous in our everyday lives—everything from our mobiles, iPods, to a variety of computer systems creates serious cognitive demands when switching from one to the next. When used simultaneously, extra cognitive demands are placed on us and the likelihood of success is dependent upon our ability to apportion attention to multiple tasks simultaneously. To alleviate the cognitive load associated with interacting with varied computing-based devices, common UI’s and modes of operation should be implemented, significantly reducing the amount of information we must store and recall. In addition, subtle cues which could be emitted from the device to assist us during our interactions, prompting us toward the appropriate action required to effectively complete a task. These cues could be delivered in a variety of (communication channels), for instance, visual or auditory cues could be provided according to the specific nature of the current activity [..]