Mobile use in an age of interruption: Implications of capacity and structural interference for mobile users

Abstract

We investigate the performance consequences of on-screen interruptions in mobile use. Drawing on capacity theory of attention, we conjecture that attention capacity may be lower in mobile use relative to PC use. A self-report instrument provides preliminary support for this conjecture. An online experiment provides additional support by showing that mobile users benefit from lower switching costs when they turn their attention to an interrupting task, while they suffer higher resumption costs when they resume a task that already demanded their attention. This study advances the understanding of mobile behavior while contributing to the broader literature on attention and interference.