Name: How the progress bar keeps you sane
Uploaded: 2018-03-15T12:49:43Z
Duration: 3 min 34 s
Description: The progress bar makes waiting more exciting... and mitigates our fear of death. Journalist Daniel Engber explores how it came into existence.

Daniel Engber: How the progress bar keeps you sane

How the progress bar keeps you sane

The progress bar makes waiting more exciting... and mitigates our fear of death. Journalist Daniel Engber explores how it came into existence.

The humble progress bar does more than signal computer activity—it reshapes how people experience waiting. Early research showed that the presence of a progress bar, even if inaccurate, made people feel better about idle time. On-screen indicators draw attention, turning frustration into an unfolding story of achievement. By converting aimless waiting into visible progress, this small design helps people endure boredom and uncertainty.

The Progress Bar Transforms Boredom Into a Sense of Progress

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