ABSTRACT
In this entry, we will discuss the impact of individual differences within the field of HCI through an examination of three specific differences: spatial ability, gender, and cognitive style. We will consider the implications of these differences with respect to a single, but important, task domain, that of information search in navigable interfaces. The value of this approach is that it provides a mechanism to cut through an extensive research literature, while still providing a discussion of factors drawn from the three
broad classifications of individual differences described above. Following the discussion of these factors, we will consider the limitations of existing work and identify areas worthy of further investigation.
