Visual Accessibility in a Virtual Kitchen: Effects of Open Shelving on Performance, Cognitive Load, and Experience in Older Adults with and without MCI

A new study from Ibrahim Bilau and collaborators (Georgia Tech, etc.) published on arXiv examines how visual accessibility via cabinet design impacts older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a virtual kitchen. Seventeen participants (7 with MCI, 10 without) completed item retrieval tasks under closed cabinets and open shelving conditions, using a counterbalanced within-subjects design. Open shelving significantly cut task duration by 291 seconds (p < .001) and reduced physical activity (ENMO) by 0.00615 (p = .008), enhancing efficiency and reducing movement demands.

However, gaze entropy increased (beta = 1.29, p = .001), with a significant interaction between setting and MCI (p = .009) and moderation by MoCA score (p < .001). Subjective measures like NASA-TLX and intrinsic motivation showed no significant difference, highlighting divergence between objective and perceived cognitive load. Qualitative findings emphasized reduced memory reliance and themes of independence, aesthetics, and safety, supporting visually accessible design for aging populations.