'Clutter detector' could cut confusion

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MIT student Lisa Nakano left a senior in brain and cognitive sciences Ruth Rosenholtz principal research scientist and graduate student Yuan Zhen laugh at the clutter in an office. The three have identified a way to measure visual clutter. Photo Don ...
MIT student Lisa Nakano, left, a senior in brain and cognitive sciences; Ruth Rosenholtz, principal research scientist; and graduate student Yuan Zhen laugh at the clutter in an office. The three have identified a way to measure visual clutter. Photo / Donna Coveney

The danger of clutter--especially on a visual screen--is that it causes confusion that affects how well we perform tasks. To that end, visual clutter is a challenge for fighter pilots picking out a target, for people seeking important information in a user interface, and for web site and map designers, among others.


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