Knock brush! Perceived impact of push-based notifications on software developers at home and at the office

Abstract

Responding to a digital interruption requires software developers to transfer their attention from their ongoing task to the contents of the notification: a shift which will disrupt their original flow of work. This paper distinguishes between different types of notifications (intrusions and interruptions) and reflects upon the results of a survey with 88 respondents. This study contributes to research by providing insights consistent with literature, particularly related to how users react to push-based notifications during varying contexts, how the software developers perceive the cost and benefits of a notification, what features stand out in a notification and the strategies used to continue their work following a notification.