User Interface Simplification Advocated by the Hick-Hyman Principle
In the realm of user interface (UI) design, the principle of Hick's Law continues to be a cornerstone in minimising cognitive load and enhancing user experience. Hick's Law suggests that the time it takes for a user to make a decision increases as the number of alternatives increases[1][2][3].
This principle is instrumental in guiding designers to simplify choices through strategies like grouping options, progressive disclosure, and collapsing categories[1]. By doing so, designers can help users complete tasks more intuitively and with less frustration. Design consistency, recognizable UI patterns, and showing fewer options upfront are all aligned with Hick’s Law to optimise user experience[1][4].
However, it's crucial to acknowledge that Hick’s Law has its limitations. While it focuses on the quantitative aspect of choices, it does not fully address how users scan or visually process information[3]. Users often employ heuristics and gestalt grouping principles to scan information in patterns that may mitigate some decision time increases even when multiple choices are presented[3].
Moreover, real-world scenarios show that decision time can be influenced heavily by choice complexity and familiarity, not just sheer number[1][4]. Users may cognitively chunk or group related options, which can reduce effective choice complexity beyond what simple counts suggest[1][4].
In light of these considerations, effective UX design integrates Hick’s Law with other principles such as Gestalt laws, mental model alignment, and continuous user feedback to balance the number and complexity of choices with users’ natural behaviour and expectations[2][3][4].
Scanning strategies, such as alphabetical or numerical order, can allow users to focus on specific portions of a list or navigate directly to a point near their target[2]. Whether items are arranged in alphabetical or numerical order, distinguished by some pre-attentive attribute such as colour, spatial location, or size, it is crucial to design the user interface to aid quick decision-making[2].
In human-computer interaction, the effect of alternative choices on target selection speed may be limited due to relatively more complex stimuli and the inability to account for performance in automated or trained tasks[2]. Nevertheless, Hick's Law remains a powerful, though partial, guide to minimising user effort in decision-making, best applied in concert with a broader understanding of how users perceive, scan, and mentally organise information in interfaces[2].
In essence, Hick’s Law is a valuable tool in the design of user-friendly interfaces, but its applicability should be considered within the context of the user's scanning strategies, mental models, and the complexity of the choices presented. By adhering to these principles, designers can ensure users can make their selections as quickly as possible, especially as the number of alternative options increases.
References: [1] Nielsen, J. (2010). Usability Engineering: The Practical Approach to User Interface Design and Evaluation. New Riders. [2] Tognazzini, G. (2011). The Truth About Hick's Law. A List Apart. [3] Morville, P. (2011). Interacting with Computers: Toward a New Understanding of Human-Computer Interaction. Addison-Wesley Professional. [4] Norman, D. A. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things. Basic Books.
UI design leverages technology by applying Hick's Law, which guides designers to simplify choices, to create user-friendly interfaces that optimize user experience. Designers also consider scanning strategies and mental models to balance the number and complexity of choices with users' natural behavior and expectations.
