seedling Last tended: Dec 10, 2025

Cognitive Load in VR

"Notes on information processing limits in immersive environments."

Cognitive Load Theory

Current thought: In VR, “Interface” is everything. The environment is the UI.

Intrinsic vs Extraneous

  • Intrinsic: The difficulty of the task itself (e.g., solving a puzzle).
  • Extraneous: The difficulty of using the tools (e.g., struggling with controller mapping).

Goal: Minimize extraneous load to near zero so the user can focus on the intrinsic experience.

Questions

  • How does haptic feedback reduce visual load?
  • Can audio cues replace UI elements?