Principlev1
Structure priority systems as LIFO stacks that present only
Structure priority systems as LIFO stacks that present only the top item for action rather than flat lists that present all items simultaneously to visual attention.
Why This Is a Principle
This derives from Working Memory Capacity Limit (working memory limits) and Attention as Gate to Conscious Perception (attention is capacity-limited, requires directed focus). A flat list presents all items to the visual field simultaneously, consuming attentional resources before conscious filtering. A stack data structure hides all but the top item, reducing the load on working memory. Task-switching generates attention residue that persists (task-switching costs) adds weight - the stack eliminates unnecessary switching by making the next action unambiguous. This is a prescriptive design principle derived from multiple cognitive constraints.