Comparing the impact of two common information architectures on the operational performance of mission planning systems

To explore the impact of information architecture design on task planning performance with the aim of improving the operational performance of task planning processes and reducing operator cognitive load. Methods: Two types of most commonly used linear and tree structures were used to design an interactive low-fidelity prototype of the two architectures based on the same planning task, 20 subjects were recruited, testers randomly selected the two scenarios, usability tests and NASA-TLX questionnaires were used to measure the differences in task planning operational performance and cognitive load of the two information architectures, and finally ANOVA methods were used to data processing and analysis. Conclusion: In the prototype design task with a tree structure, the subjects' performance was generally higher than that of the task designed with a linear structure, and the former subjects' cognitive load index values of self-performance, mental demand, time demand, frustration level, and effort level scores were lower than those of the latter, except for physical demand. After analysis, it was concluded that probably in complex task planning scenarios with many subtasks, the tree structure enables users to have a more holistic control of task branching and reduces the path return hierarchy, which in turn reduces the consumption of cognitive resources.Keywords: task planning, information architecture, interaction flow design, linear structure, tree structure