What are the cognitive benefits and drawbacks of using animations and transitions in user interfaces?

Animations and transitions can also be used as subconscious clues that help reduce cognitive load. Gestalt philosophy is a popular design ideology that assumes humans see individual elements as part of a greater whole. One of the ways this manifests in user interface design is through movement. Specifically, the "Common Fate" gestalt principle suggests that the human eye perceives objects that move in the same direction as belonging to the same group or category. This technique can be used to provide information scent to users without explicitly spelling things out and increasing cognitive load.

Animated transitions also allow object tracking. Sudden jarring transitions can result in increased change blindness or visual changes not recognized or observed by the user. Most people track fewer than 9 items during a transition but it still helps people monitor how multiple things change.

Totally agree here. Animations and transitions can be used to improve the usability and user experience of a user interface (UI) to a certain extent. They can Help users understand the layout and flow of the UI (Ex: an animation could be used to show how a user can scroll through a list of items), they can make the UI more visually appealing (also be used to create a sense of movement and dynamism), and they can reduce cognitive (Ex: an animation could be used to show how to complete a multi-step process).

Agree - This is somewhat based in human physiology. Movement draws the eye, and the new focus area must be assesed. This is basic behavior for humans from the earliest days, where hunter/gatherers needed to be aware of dangers around them. Our eyes are optimized in the center of the field of view for focus, while all around this central area the eye is optimized to detect movement. Animations that are overly dynamic can pull users out of context, to assess this motion, disrupting their mental process. It can also be noted that what was comfortable in a User Interface in the past, may no longer be comfortable in the present. It is good practice to test new and existing interfaces to adjust as needed.

However, there are also some drawbacks to using animations and transitions in UI design. They can be distracting If animations are too flashy or complex, They can slow down the UI as technically animations can take up processing power (important for limited resources like mobile), and They can be overused If animations are used too often, they can become annoying and even make the UI harder to use.

Overusing animations can lead to cognitive overload, where users are overwhelmed by excessive visual stimuli, slowing down task performance as they wait for transitions to complete. In order to mitigate this, I recommend keeping the following in mind : 1. Utilize Hick's Law: Group similar actions together to speed up decision-making. The more options/information you present with transitions/animations, the longer it takes users to decide. 2. Provide Accessibility Options: Offer the option to disable/pause animations for users with cognitive impairments. 3. Optimize Load Times: Create fast and responsive animations that would prevent delays and reduce user frustration.

Cognitive benefits of animations include guiding user focus: Google Material Design uses subtle motion to highlight interactions, aiding user attention and comprehension. Feedback animations in Apple's iOS confirm actions, reducing uncertainty, enhancing user understanding. However, drawbacks emerge with excessive animations: Windows' earlier versions had heavy, slow transitions, causing frustration and impeding task completion. Slack's interface, while visually engaging, had excessive animated elements, sometimes distracting from the primary content, impacting user focus. Balancing animations, like Airbnb's intuitive navigation transitions, is key to enhancing user experience without overwhelming cognitive processing.

Animations and transitions offer cognitive benefits by guiding user attention, aiding comprehension, and improving user experience. They provide visual cues for hierarchy, directing focus and aiding navigation, reducing cognitive load. Animated feedback confirms actions, enhancing user understanding and engagement. However, excessive or irrelevant animations can distract, causing cognitive overload and impeding task completion. Slow animations may hinder efficiency, frustrating users. Balancing animations is crucial; subtle, purposeful animations aid cognition, while excessive or slow transitions may hinder usability, impacting user experience negatively.