Mobile Lab — Mobile User Interface Techniques

Mobile user interface techniques: RSVP

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When people read or absorb information they are spending most of their time moving their eyes. In our Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) example, we illustrate the latency effect that flashing information has in a person's brain. This RSVP mobile user interface technique is one that helps us to learn and retain information much more quickly. The technique behind RSVP that we illustrate involves rapidly flashing information at a fixed focal point so that the user doesn't have to move their eyes. You will see pictures with related words changing in the middle of the screen and a selector moving around giving you the context of where you are in the cycle.

Attempt to see what the words are as you watch the demo again. Once you have ''vacation sites'' as the context notice how much faster you now recognize the words as they flash by. RSVP is an extremely efficient way for users to get a sense of the whole and what's available to them.

One way this technique might be used is when you get to a new interface or a section of an application or content. RSVP can cycle rapidly and let the users know all their options. This allows them to become much more familiar with the content as opposed to just exploring for themselves or simply ignoring it to go on to things they are already familiar with in the interface. Replay this demo a few different times and see how it works.