SCOPED: A Set of Design Hypotheses Targeting the Visual Perceptibility of Interface Items

Effective software use is mediated by the ability of users to perceive and interact with elements presented through the user interface. As user interfaces are frequently visual, it is unsurprising that prior research has often focused on optimising visual interfaces for user processing. However, this body of research is limited by the fact that it has largely ignored the biological mechanisms that enable such processing. We seek to address this deficiency by developing a set of design hypotheses that draw upon the neuroscience of visual perception to increase the visual perceptibility of interface items. This development takes place within a series of laboratory experiments involving over 500 participants. We conclude with five validated and complimentary design hypotheses, collectively given the title of shape, colour and position for effective decomposition' (SCOPED).