Strategic Pausing in Digital Reading: A Pilot Evaluation of SmartPause on Cognitive Performance

Digital reading environments are prone to premature disengagement, which can impair comprehension and cognitive performance. This pilot study introduces a simplified version of SmartPause—a lightweight, timing-sensitive intervention that encourages readers to continue until a natural breakpoint. Unlike earlier conceptual designs that included reflection prompts and note-taking, this version isolates the effect of exit timing alone, offering a more minimal and scalable interaction. By removing additional scaffolding and controlling for individual variability, we test whether timing cues by themselves support cognitive performance. Fourteen participants read two digital passages in a fixed order: one passage ended at a natural breakpoint, while the other was exited partway through. Exit timing was counterbalanced across participants to compare cognitive outcomes associated with early versus full completion. Measures included selective attention, free recall, perceived workload, engagement and affective state. Preliminary results suggest directional benefits in favour of natural breakpoint-aligned exits, particularly for memory, attentional control, and affective tone. These trends tentatively support the role of cognitively aligned pausing in enhancing digital reading outcomes without adding user burden. This exploratory pilot offers early evidence for context-aware disengagement as a design principle and motivates future development of adaptive reading systems aligned with cognitive rhythms.