6. People Scan Screens Based on Past Experience and Expectations

Where to Look First

• Depending on your language, you will read left to right or vice versa. This will distinct where you look first.
• People typically focus on the middle of the page and side where they begin to read.
• The top of the page is often ignored, containing ordinary information like logos, black space, and navigation bars.
• The edges are often ignored since they typically contain ads and irrelevant information per what they are looking for.

Directing Focus

• You have the ability to direct focus away from the typical reading pattern.
• Photos grab attention, especially ones that contain faces.
• Movements like animations, videos, flashing, or blinking will draw attention.

Mental Models

• People have a mental model of where things tend to be on a computer screen.
• People also have a mental model of the applications or website they typically use.
• They will look at a screen based on these mental models.

How Problem's Effect View

• When an error or a problem occurs, attention is redirected to the problem area.