Have you ever thought about why it is easier to remember a 10-digit phone number than just 10 numbers?
For example: read the following
7 3 4 2 1 6 1 5 8 1
Close your eyes and repeat the 10 numbers …
Now if I show it as a telephone number
734 – 216- 1581
Close your eyes and repeat the 10 numbers …
Let’s describe working memory as this short-term ability to remember something just presented to you.
This working memory has a capacity on average for people … this is 7+/- 2 chunks of information.
If there is more than 7+/- 2 chunks of information, for most people, the probability of holding in working memory drops rapidly.
So a trick we use to remember things easier is to group items into chunks like with a phone number so that we can remember it.
We can exercise it in the working memory so that we can write down on a piece of paper or type it into our phone.
NNG on chunking in UX
Consider the following:
- 7+/- 2 chunks of information is about memory and not visual processing – so if you want someone to remember something and then use it within 20s that is when it is important to chunk information into 5-9 items.
- When in your designs do you expect someone to remember something and then act upon it? How many times in a call center do they ask the customer to take the call number or ticket number down?
- When you go to leave a voice message and rattle off a string of information … how many times do you expect someone to replay your message so that they can write the information down?