Web-based Search: How Do Animated User Interface Elements Affect Autistic and Non-Autistic Users?

TL;DR

This study investigates how animated UI elements influence search behavior and user experience, especially among autistic users, revealing that animations can cause hastened queries and increased distraction, with autistic users experiencing greater mental demand and annoyance.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the differential impact of animations on autistic and non-autistic users during search tasks, highlighting usability concerns.

Findings

Animated elements lead to hastier search queries.

Autistic users find animations more distracting and mentally demanding.

Animations can negatively affect overall user experience.

Abstract

Many websites and other user interfaces include animated elements, particularly for advertisements. However, these can have a negative impact on users, with some cohorts, such as autistic users, being more affected. In our mixed methods study on the effect of irrelevant animations on usability we observed the effect on search activities. For those greatly impacted by on-screen animation the effect was not always to slow down a task, but search terms were entered hastily to avoid more exposure, with shorter queries on average and a greater tendency to copy and paste during query formulation. Autistic users found the task more mentally demanding, and were more distracted or annoyed by the animations.