I love it, I have been meaning to put together a similar simulation to demonstrate the effects of interruptions and context switches on developers.

Something like the following:

- a game or puzzle which requires working memory, like matching pairs or some puzzles that need a lot of working memory and/or flipping between screens

- this gets interrupted by fullscreen interruptions of someone's face, and text asking questions, or announcing something, and you have to pick an answer or a reaction (multiple choice)

- it could start with questions like 'hi, are you busy?' or 'can I ask you a question?'

- answers which tries to end the conversation quickly could lead to even more demanding reactions or questions

- interruptions stating there is an emergency can lead to a lot of questions and answers which then leads you to discover than it is in fact not an emergency

- once one of these engagements finish you can return to the game and try to complete it

- you'll get multiple interruptions like this

- other interruptions can also flash up, like a notification that a meeting is due in x minutes

- it could then have a short simulated meeting, perhaps just a line by line scroll of dialogue between others, where you need to say nothing

- however, at some point someone will ask you directly about one of the items discussed, and you will be given a set of fairly ambiguous multiple choice answers which you will have to try out until you get to the 'correct' one

- at the end of the meeting you return to the working memory task/game

- this gets interrupted by someone then asking you about the action points in the meeting

- return to the game

- get notifications about the end of your work day coming up

- more interruptions, etc.

user:	kokey
created:	September 11, 2007
karma:	1.9k