Exploring factors influencing multitasking interaction with multiple smart devices

•We model the scenario of multitasking interaction with multiple smart devices.•Seven factors are found to have significant influence on the scenario.•Motivation can positively predict users’ behavior intention of multitasking.•Whether users have multitasking experience has impact on two factors.•We use this model to analyze applications related to multitasking interaction.

The intention of this study is to investigate multitasking interaction with multiple smart devices and to unveil factors that play important roles in multitasking scenarios. A survey was carried out and 240 respondents participated whose scores ultimately demonstrated the degree of influence of various items on multitasking interaction with multiple smart devices. Then an exploratory factor analysis was conducted and a seven-factor model named MINDCOS was derived, including Motivation, Input, Navigation and control, Display screen, Cognitive workload, Output, Spatial distribution. The model was utilized to describe the scenario of multitasking interaction with multiple smart devices and the top three factors which illustrated the total variance the most were used to analyze related applications. Then the relationship between the factors and perceived behavior intention of multitasking interaction was tested by regression analysis. This study also found whether users had multitasking experience had a significant impact on their perceived influence of two factors which are Navigation and control and Output.