Cognitive load assistance method and system

1 . A method comprising:

providing a virtual environment comprising (i) a route to complete a current task, and (ii) one or more interactive elements that are not essential to completing the current task and that are encountered while completing the current task;

receiving an indication that cognitive load assistance is required; and

reducing an interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied,

wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied comprises:

evaluating a total level of non-essential interactivity over a predetermined amount of a task based on a score for each interactive element that is not essential to the current task, and

wherein the interactivity and associated score of one or more interactive elements that are not essential to the current task is reduced until a target maximum level of non-essential interactivity over the predetermined amount of a task is met.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactivity is reduced for a smallest number of interactive elements.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactivity is reduced whilst removing the smallest number of interactive elements.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactivity is reduced responsive to an order in which the interactive elements may be encountered during the task.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total level of non-essential interactivity is reduced responsive to the remaining time available to complete the task.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total level of non-essential interactivity is adjusted responsive to the level of interaction of a user with the elements that are not essential to the current task.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises removing an interactive element from the virtual environment.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises delaying an appearance of an interactive element in the virtual environment.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises reducing a duration of interaction for an interactive element in the virtual environment.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises converting an active interactive element into a passive interactive element.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the passive interactive element responds to interactions that are initiated by a user.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises converting an active interactive element into a non-interactive element.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements comprises converting a passive interactive element into a non-interactive element.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the target maximum level of non-essential interactivity comprises a percentage.

15 . A system comprising one or more computers and one or more storage devices on which are stored instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

providing a virtual environment comprising (i) a route to complete a current task, and (ii) one or more interactive elements that are not essential to completing the current task and that are encountered while completing the current task;

receiving an indication that cognitive load assistance is required; and

reducing an interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied,

wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied comprises:

evaluating a total level of non-essential interactivity over a predetermined amount of a task based on a score for each interactive element that is not essential to the current task, and

wherein the interactivity and associated score of one or more interactive elements that are not essential to the current task is reduced until a target maximum level of non-essential interactivity over the predetermined amount of a task is met.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more computer programs configured to cause a processor-based system to execute operations comprising:

providing a virtual environment comprising (i) a route to complete a current task, and (ii) one or more interactive elements that are not essential to completing the current task and that are encountered while completing the current task;

receiving an indication that cognitive load assistance is required; and

reducing an interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied,

wherein reducing the interactivity of one or more of the interactive elements until one or more criteria are satisfied comprises:

evaluating a total level of non-essential interactivity over a predetermined amount of a task based on a score for each interactive element that is not essential to the current task, and

wherein the interactivity and associated score of one or more interactive elements that are not essential to the current task is reduced until a target maximum level of non-essential interactivity over the predetermined amount of a task is met.