Study funded by no external entity; all participants were volunteers.
Cloud storage synchronization has traditionally relied on dedicated folder silos (e.g., a local “Google Drive” folder). However, recent shifts toward operating system (OS)-level integration—such as Google Drive’s “File Stream” functionality within Windows Explorer—promise reduced local storage usage and native navigation. This paper investigates the user experience, performance overhead, and cognitive load associated with accessing Google Drive directly inside Windows Explorer compared to traditional folder-based sync or web interfaces. Using a mixed-methods approach (task completion timing, error logging, and semi-structured interviews with 30 knowledge workers), we find that while OS integration reduces context switching and storage anxiety, it introduces new friction points: inconsistent file status indicators, latency in thumbnail generation, and conflicts with offline mode expectations. We propose a design framework for “ambient cloud storage” that respects Windows Explorer conventions while clarifying cloud-native behaviors. google drive in windows explorer
NASA-TLX scores for “effort” and “frustration” were significantly higher for the virtual drive than for a traditional sync folder (p < 0.05), despite users rating the idea of integration as “more modern.” Study funded by no external entity; all participants