UX word of the day: visual momentum

Visual Momentum| noun| Vis-u-al • Mo-men-tum

1. : the amount of cognitive effort required to integrate information across multiple views and displays. The greater the visual momentum, the lower the effort required.
2. : in cinematography, it refers to a smooth transition from one cut to the next so that it doesn’t seem abrupt to the viewer or cause disruption in the viewing experience

I love how Google Maps increases visual momentum by highlighting all nearby restaurants when I search for them so I can compare their ratings and locations. It even allows me to see the cuisine and its reviews just by hovering over it so I don’t have to open its page in a new tab. This makes making decisions about what and where to eat so easy!