Visual dispersion

The cognitive challenge faced by deaf and hard of hearing people when they must simultaneously monitor multiple visual information sources, such as an instructor, presentation slides, a sign language interpreter or captions, and their own notes. Because deaf individuals receive nearly all information visually — unlike hearing peers who can listen to a speaker while looking at slides — they must constantly shift their gaze between sources, causing information to be missed and increasing cognitive load. Visual dispersion is a particular problem in educational and workplace settings, and many deaf students request note-takers specifically to reduce the number of visual streams they must manage. Solutions include consolidating multiple visual channels onto a single display within close spatial proximity and designing interfaces that minimize the distance between related information sources.