Multitasking and Interruptions during Mobile Web Tasks

Common traits of mobile computing are time critical tasks and interruptions that require multitasking. Essential for success of a mobile web task is quick and accurate performance. To facilitate performance in response to interruptions, an understanding of factors that influence multitashng during mobile computing is required. This study examines the effect of anticipation and origin (i.e. instant messaging, or phone and intercom) of an interruption on user web performance on a mobile device (iPAQ h3800 pocket PC) or desktop computer. Results show that instant messages can significantly disrupt web task performance time, contrary to popular belief that phones are more disruptive. Anticipated interruptions produce better web task performance particularly on a mobile platform. As expected, web tasks take 1.5 times longer to complete during interruptions on an iPAQ compared to a desktop.