Information Persistence and Memory

The User Reality: Users with executive function or working memory challenges often experience disorientation when required to mentally retain information - such as a navigation route or a previous instruction - while performing a task. When a system relies on the user’s ability to recall instructions from a previous state, it introduces a "cognitive tax" that leads to confusion and task abandonment.

Research: Miller’s Law suggests working memory capacity diminishes significantly under sensory stress. Mott et al. (2020) highlight that systems should act as "external memory" to support neurodivergent learners.

The Openality Standard

The interface must prioritise "Recognition over Recall." By ensuring that essential contextual information and navigational options remain persistently visible, the system acts as an external memory aid.

• Constraint: The interface must not rely on the user’s memory of previous instructions or screens to complete the current task.
• Requirement: All active objectives, instructional prompts, and navigational anchors must remain persistently available within the user’s field of view until the state is resolved.

Core Behaviours

• Shallow Navigation Architecture - Prioritises a flat menu structure where critical functions are accessible within one or two steps, minimising the cognitive friction associated with deep hierarchies.
• Consistent Layout Anchoring - Critical interactive elements (e.g., Home button, current objective display) occupy fixed positions across all screens and sessions, providing a reliable anchor for user orientation and recovery.

Primary Interaction Patterns

• The Current Step HUD - A persistent display that shows the current objective or instruction, ensuring the user always has access to the "What Now?" without needing to remember previous prompts.