Position-invariant icon remapping facilities search performance in foldable smartphones through the contribution of contextual cueing

Abstract

Enabling smartphones to be foldable provides an effective approach to achieving both portability and large screens. Notably, switches between closed and open states in using foldable smartphones are accompanied by icon remapping, which can decrease smartphone usability if it fails to match usage expectations. This study conducted two experiments to examine the usability of two popular icon remapping methods, position-invariant and order-invariant, as well as the specific roles of contextual cues in different icon remapping. Results revealed that position-invariant remapping is more effective in terms of usability with faster searching speed. Also, getting familiar with the spatial arrangement of icons on small screens reduced performance differences between the two remapping methods on large screens while improving search speed only on small screens. These results together suggest that position-invariant remapping is a more effective design, highlighting the significance of contextual cueing in optimizing icon remapping designs in foldable smartphones.

Significance statement

Incorporating cognitive science principles into interface design offers valuable insights for enhancing real-world user experiences. In recent years, foldable smartphones have emerged as a rapidly growing trend in mobile technology, introducing unique interaction challenges that impact usability. Unlike conventional devices, screen transitions in foldable phones (between closed and open states) involve simultaneous changes in screen size and the number and spatial arrangement of icons, placing greater demands on users’ visual attention. Despite their increasing popularity, it remains unclear which icon remapping method best supports efficient search performance during screen transitions and why certain designs are more cognitively effective than others. We compared two common icon remapping methods and examined the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved. Our findings demonstrate that position-invariant remapping is the preferred design, as it preserves more horizontal and vertical spatial relationships between icons (i.e., contextual cues), enhancing search performance and helping maintain usability during screen transitions. The findings advance our understanding of visual search while providing practical insights for designing more intuitive and user-friendly interfaces.