Augmenting Context-Dependent Memory

The goal of this study was to design a human-computer interface that would increase the memorability of information presented by providing context as compared with memory with no context. Our focus was in augmenting context-dependent memory because it is a powerful and often unexploited characteristic of human cognition. To amplify this cognitive strength, we built the InfoCockpit, which included a large screen containing projected images of places, a three-dimensional surround-sound system that played ambient noises congruent with the projected images, and a flat-panel monitor that served as the focal display for the presentation of the to-be-remembered information. Participants in our study learned and recalled information in either the InfoCockpit or a standard desktop environment. The InfoCockpit group demonstrated a 131% memory advantage. Contextual factors that were previously found to be effective in isolation created a large effect when presented in combination.