bermanm
commented
6 years ago It's a great question and the short answer is we don't know. It's an empirical question with regard to how universal it is, etc. The results with breast cancer are a bit complex. We have begun to look at non-human species as well to see if we get similar results.
Thank you for introducing this measure of cognitive effort. What I find most exciting about it is, if the fractal scaling is truly valid across different contexts and population groups, it could be a game changer in the way we measure and adapt interactions between humans and items/experiences we design. I am thinking anything from Internet of Things products to usability of everyday items for vulnerable populations (seniors, ill, disabled, children) to the way we interact with government services (remember these notes at the bottom of bureaucratic paperwork that says the burden should be "no longer than 15 min"?) This can have enormous implications for UI/UX.
You have already started thinking about how this measure can be used for breast cancer patients and other contexts. What challenges do you anticipate in validating fractal scaling as a measure of cognitive effort for a wider population group? Do you envision it becoming a truly universal measure of cognitive effort across populations and different cultural contexts? Or should we limit how this measure is used?