Duration and Speed Perception of Loading Processes: Influence of Progress Bar’s Physical and Symbolic Speed

Progress bars are often displayed during loading processes to provide feedback and maintain user experience. However, it remains unclear how different speed features of progress bars influence users' perception of loading processes. Progress bars' physical speed and symbolic speed were manipulated in study 1 and study 2 respectively, where participants' duration estimation and speed evaluation of loading processes were measured. Results show that physically faster progress bars increased both duration estimation and speed evaluation. Symbolically slower progress bars decreased duration estimation and increased speed evaluation. Further analyses showed that speed evaluation has a more direct impact on the overall user experience compared with duration estimation. We discussed how different speed features of progress bars influence users' perception of loading processes and made suggestions on designing progress bars. Contrary to common design practice, we recommend using physically faster (also longer for a certain loading time) progress bars with symbolically slower decorations.