Browsing Large Online Data Tables Using Generalized Query Previews (2001)

Companies, government agencies, and other organizations are making their data available to the world over the Internet. They often use large online relational tables for this purpose. Users query such tables with front-ends that typically use menus or form fillin interfaces, but these interfaces rarely give users information about the contents and distribution of the data. Such a situation leads users to waste time and network resources posing queries that have zero-hit or mega-hit results. Generalized query previews enable efficient browsing of large online databases by supplying data distribution information to the users. The data distribution information provides continuous feedback about the size of the result set as the query is being formed. Our paper presents a user interface architecture and discusses recent experimental findings. Our prototype system, ExpO, provides a flexible user interface for research and testing. The user study shows that for exploratory querying tasks, generalized query previews speed user performance and reduce network load

Visualização de informação

O relatório está dividido em duas partes. Na primeira parte, é abordado o problema da visualização exactamente no que diz respeito à subtil correlação existente entre as técnicas (e respectivas metáforas), o utilizador e os dados. Na segunda parte, são analisadas algumas aplicações, projectos, ferramentas e sistemas de Visualização de Informação. Para categorizalos, serão considerados sete tipos de dados básicos subjacentes a eles: unidimensional, bidimensional, tridimensional, multi-dimensional, temporal, hierárquico, rede e workspace.O tema deste relatório é a visualização da informação. Esta é uma área actualmente muito activa e vital no ensino, na pesquisa e no desenvolvimento tecnológico. A ideia básica é utilizar imagens geradas pelo computador como meio para se obter uma maior compreensão e apreensão da informação que está presente nos dados (geometria) e suas relações (topologia). É um conceito simples, porém poderoso que tem criado imenso impacto em diversas áreas da engenharia e ciência.The theme of this report is information visualization. Nowadays, this is a very active and vital area of research, teaching and development. The basic idea of using computer generated pictures to gain information and understanding from data and relationships is the key concept behind it. This is an extremely simple, but very important concept which is having a powerful impact on methodology of engineering and science. This report is consisted of two parts. The first one, is an overview of the subtle correlation between the visual techniques, the user perception and the data. In the second part, several computer applications, tools, projects and information visualization systems are analyzed. In order to categorize them, seven basic types of data are considered: onedimensional, two- dimensional, three-dimensional, multidimensional, temporal, hierarchic, network and workspace

Browsing Large Online Data Tables Using Generalized Query Previews *

Companies, government agencies, and other organizations are making their data available to the world over the Internet. They often use large online relational tables for this purpose. Users query such tables with front-ends that typically use menus or form fillin interfaces, but these interfaces rarely give users information about the contents and distribution of the data. Such a situation leads users to waste time and network/server resources posing queries that have zero-hit or mega-hit results. Generalized query previews enable efficient browsing of large online data tables by supplying data distribution information to the users. The data distribution information provides continuous feedback about the size of the result set as the query is being formed. Our paper presents a new user interface architecture and discusses various experimental findings. Our prototype systems provide flexible user interfaces for research and testing of the ideas. The user studies show that for exploratory querying tasks, generalized query previews can speed user performance for certain user domains and can reduce network/server load

Genome visualisation and user studies in biologist-computer interaction

We surveyed a number of genome visualisation tools used in biomedical research. We recognised that none of the tools shows all the relevant data geneticists who look for candidate disease genes would like to see. The biological researchers we collaborate with would like to view integrated data from a variety of sources and be able to see both data overviews and details. In response to this need, we developed a new visualisation tool, VisGenome, which allows the users to add their own data or data downloaded from other sources, such as Ensembl. VisGenome visualises single and comparative representations of the rat, the mouse, and the human chromosomes, and can easily be used for other genomes. In the context of VisGenome development we made the following research contributions. We developed a new algorithm (CartoonPlus) which allows the users to see different kinds of data in cartoon scaling depending on a selected basis. Also, two user studies were conducted: an initial quantitative user study and a mixed paradigm user study. The first study showed that neither Ensembl nor VisGenome fulfil all user requirements and can be regarded as user-friendly, as the users make a significant number of mistakes during data navigation. To help users navigate their data easily, we improved existing visualisation techniques in VisGenome and added a new technique CartoonPlus. To verify if this solution was useful, we conducted a second user study. We saw that the users became more familiar with the tool, and found new ways to use the application on its own and in connection with other tools. They frequently used CartoonPlus, which allowed them to see small regions of their data in a way that was not possible before

CHUB: um modelo cartográfico para a visualização e análise do corpo humano

Tese de Doutoramento em Tecnologias e Sistemas de Informação - Área do Conhecimento Engenharia de Programação e dos Sistemas InformáticosA visualização é a representação visual realística ou abstracta de um conjunto de dados que são gerados por modelos computacionais ou resultantes de medições físicas realizadas no mundo real. É fundamental para auxiliar as pessoas a compreenderem dados e processos complexos e pode ser classificada consoante os seus objectivos (nomeadamente a visualização científica e de informação). A correcta modelação e caracterização dos dados são partes fundamentais para a escolha de técnicas visuais eficazes e a produção de uma visualização válida. O grande desafio é exactamente o de identificar como a análise dos resultados pode e deve ser mostrada ao potencial utilizador de uma forma simultaneamente sucinta, coerente e útil. O conceito de modelação cartográfica ou álgebra de mapas foi desenvolvido por Dana Tomlin em 1983 com o Map Analysis Package1 [Sendra2000]. Um modelo cartográfico pode ser visualizado como uma colecção de mapas registados numa base cartográfica comum, em que cada mapa é uma variável sujeita a operações matemáticas tradicionais. A modelação é um processo que decorre de operações primitivas de pontos, vizinhança e regiões sobre diferentes mapas, numa lógica sequencial para interpretar e resolver problemas espaciais. Neste contexto, a sequência de operações é similar à solução algébrica de um conjunto de equações. A criação de ferramentas informáticas para a análise e visualização de dados relacionados com o corpo humano é uma área em forte expansão e de especial interesse. Apesar destas ferramentas serem muito úteis, sofrem bastante da limitação imposta pela arquitectura dos modelos utilizados para o seu desenvolvimento e consequente implementação. Isto ocorre porque estes modelos adoptam os mesmos princípios e ponderações que são aplicados a dados de natureza não humana ou biológica e tratando-os de forma independente e atómica. Por outro lado, a utilização de técnicas visuais pouco intuitivas no sentido de denotar a interdependência espacial inerente a este tipo de informação é outra limitação a salientar neste tipo de ferramentas. Os dados relacionados com o corpo humano apresentam uma forte componente espacial. Para que seja possível uma análise e investigação correctas é necessário ter isso sempre em consideração. Um bom exemplo desta situação é o diagnóstico médico. A combinação de informação oriunda de diferentes partes do corpo humano é normalmente necessária para que um médico possa diagnosticar a doença de um paciente. O acto de diagnosticar pode ser traduzido por um conjunto de operações de álgebra de mapas executadas sobre os dados relacionados com o corpo humano do paciente. Qualquer modelo que pretenda servir de base para o desenvolvimento e implementação de ferramentas informáticas orientadas para a medicina, e em especial, para a análise e visualização de dados relacionado com o corpo humano, deve incorporar os princípios fundamentais da modelação cartográfica. Desta maneira, é possível que os dados possam ser devidamente modelados e consequentemente extrapolada mais informação útil. Por outro lado, a utilização da visualização como instrumento de comunicação de resultados, com a inclusão de metáforas visuais cartográficas é outra mais-valia a ter em conta. O modelo CHUB (Cartographic Human Body), que é apresentado neste trabalho, pretende colmatar essa falha identificada no tratamento e visualização de dados relacionados com o corpo humano. Utiliza a modelação cartográfica como alicerce fundamental para a análise dos dados e a visualização científica e de informação como meio para a comunicação de resultados. Para ser possível a sua avaliação e validação foram considerados dois estudos de caso: diagnóstico da artrose no joelho e a análise de sessões de hidrocinesioterapia. Para estes dois estudos de caso foi implementado um protótipo que instancia o modelo CHUB nestes casos particulares, permitindo a sua utilização, avaliação e validação em dois domínios específicos. Os resultados obtidos após a utilização e avaliação do protótipo permitiram validar com sucesso o modelo CHUB proposto nesta tese de doutoramento.Visualization is the realistic or abstract visual representation of a dataset that is generated by computer models or resulting from physical measurements of the real world. Visualization is fundamental to help people understand data and complexes processes and can be categorized according its goals (scientific or information). The correct data model and characterization are essential to the right choice of the visualization techniques and the production of useful visualizations. The great challenge lies in how to determine that the results are showed to the final users at the same time in a coherent, useful and simple way. The cartographic model concept was developed by Dana Tomlin in 1983 with the Map Analysis Package2 [Sendra2000]. A cartographic model can be seen as a collection of maps that are registered in a cartographic database, where each map is a “variable” that can be mathematically operated. These operations may involve primitives such as points or areas of different maps, for example, in a sequential order to interpret and solve spatial problems. In this context, the sequence of operations is similar to the algebraic solution of a group of equations. The creation of automatic tools for human’s body data analysis and visualization is a field in expansion and of great interest. However these tools are very valuable, they suffer from a common limitation that is imposed by their basis architectural model. In general, they rarely represent in a suitable way biological, morphological and/or biomedical data spatial interdependency. These models treat data in an almost total focused and independent way. The human body systems and organs work as a complex machine, where each part depends strongly on the others. This dependency might be stronger or weaker to the system or organ importance on the overall patient condition. The doctor diagnoses an illness by comparing and analyzing information not only directly related to the mostly affected organ, but also to the body as a whole. In fact the doctor performs a subtle spatial analysis, and therefore, executes a typical algebraic map operation in his/her mind, when diagnosing a patient. An illness might arouse different symptoms and physiological changes in systems/organs that are not directly related to the spatial location of it. CHUB is a model that was developed taking into consideration the main principles of cartographic modelling. It structures data according to different layers of information. Each layer is associated to a specific organ and/or system, and might contain geometric data or attributes that are “human-referenced”. CHUB has not been developed as a dynamic model. It is considered that dynamic issues related to human’s body data, such as body movement, blood flow or heartbeat (besides others) will be accomplished by other models that should be used as a specialized extension to CHUB. In order to validate CHUB two cases of study were considered – osteoarthritis knee diagnosis and hydrokinetic therapy sessions analysis, proposed two strategies for its validation and a prototype implemented. This prototype allowed its utilization, evaluation and validation in two different domains. The results achieved after its utilization and test lead to a complete CHUB validation

Usability-Ergebnisse als Wissensressource in Organisationen

Durch den Prozess der nutzerzentrierten Softwareentwicklung sammeln Organisationen wichtige Erkenntnisse über die Nutzer ihre Produkte, deren Arbeitsaufgaben und über die Nutzungskontexte, in dem diese sie anwenden. Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie derartige Usability-Ergebnisse in einer Organisation langfristig als Durch den Prozess der nutzerzentrierten Softwareentwicklung sammeln Organisationen wichtige Erkenntnisse über die Nutzer ihrer Produkte, deren Arbeitsaufgaben und über die Nutzungskontexte, in denen sie angewendet werden. Diese Arbeit untersucht, wie derartige Usability-Ergebnisse in einer Organisation langfristig als Wissensressource eingesetzt werden können, um die Usability zukünftiger Produkte zu verbessern und die Effizienz des nutzerzentrierten Entwicklungsprozesses zu optimieren. Im Fokus stehen dabei interne Usability-Beauftragte als Anwender dieser Wissensressource: Da diese innerhalb ihrer Organisation für die dort entwickelten Produkte verantwortlich sind, haben sie ein besonders hohes Interesse an der nachhaltigen Nutzung der erhobenen Usability-Ergebnisse. Zu einer organisationsinternen Nutzung von Usability-Ergebnissen existieren bereits Ansätze aus der Forschung zu nutzerzentrierten Entwicklungsprozessen im Bereich der Mensch-Computer-Interaktion, die unterschiedliche Ziele verfolgen. (Hughes, 2006; Douglas, 2007; Vilbergsdottir et al., 2014). Einen frühen Ansatz stellt Andre et al. (2001) mit dem User Action Framework vor, dessen Anwendung jedoch aufwendig sein kann (Hornbæk et al., 2008). Vorschläge für die Klassifizierung von empirischen Usability-Ergebnissen werden bislang vor allem im Kontext der Forschung zu Usability-Methoden eingesetzt (etwa Lavery et al., 1997; Hornbæk et al., 2008). In anderen Bereichen finden sie jedoch keine breite Anwendung, da sie nicht auf die Anwendungsfälle für Usability-Information in Organisationen abgestimmt sind. Als eine zentrale Fragestellung dieser Arbeit wird daher untersucht, für welche Anwendungsfälle eine Sammlung von Usability-Ergebnissen eingesetzt werden kann (Forschungsfrage RQ1). Dafür werden qualitativ ausgerichtete Interviews (n=8) mit internen Usability-Beauftragten sowie Fokusgruppen in zwei Organisationen durchgeführt. Im Rahmen dieser Studien können außerdem die Anforderungen an die Wissensorganisation und an die Informationsinteraktion für die Nutzung von Usability-Ergebnissen als Wissensressource analysiert werden (RQ2). Die Anforderungen werden als ein prototypisches Usability-Informationssystem umgesetzt, welches den Zugang zu einer Sammlung von Usability-Ergebnissen bereitstellt. In einer Studie mit Usability-Beauftragten (n=11) wird dieses System evaluiert, um Rückschlüsse auf die zugrunde liegenden Anforderungen zu ermöglichen. Im Rahmen der Studie werden zudem die Entscheidungsprozesse diskutiert, die angewendet werden, wenn Usability-Ergebnisse auf andere Kontexte übertragen oder verallgemeinert werden sollen (RQ3). Weiterhin werden die Faktoren und Barrieren untersucht, welche die Akzeptanz von Usability-Ergebnissen als Wissensressource in einer Organisation beeinflussen (RQ4). Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass Usability-Ergebnisse bereits in vielen Organisationen gesammelt und gezielt eingesetzt werden. Die erhobenen Anwendungsfälle (RQ1) umfassen die Übertragung von vorhandenen Ergebnissen auf aktuelle Gestaltungsentscheidungen, Lernprozesse, analytische Fragestellungen und die Verallgemeinerung zu internen Richtlinien. Zu den identifizierten Anforderungen für die Organisation von Usability-Wissen (RQ2) gehört die Kombination von produktübergreifenden und produktbezogenen Metadaten. Die empirischen Evaluierungsergebnisse aus Nutzertests sollten mit den zugrunde liegenden Daten, vor allem aber mit den resultierenden Lösungsvorschlägen verknüpft werden. Bei der Gestaltung der Informationsinteraktion sollten die gezielte Suche, der Umgang mit potenziell unbekannter oder wechselnder Terminologie, aber auch explorative Such- und Lernprozesse unterstützen werden. Wenn Usability-Ergebnisse in einer Organisation mit dem Ziel der Vollständigkeit erhoben werden, können darauf auch Funktionen für die quantitative Analyse und für die Prozessbewertung aufbauen. Für die Bewertung der Übertragbarkeit von Usability-Ergebnissen (RQ3) sind eine Reihe von Entscheidungskriterien und Hinweisen relevant, anhand derer ihre Zuverlässigkeit überprüft und der Erhebungskontext hinsichtlich der Relevanz für eine aktuelle Fragestellung bewertet werden kann. Die Akzeptanz der Anwendung von Usability-Wissen (RQ4) erscheint primär von dem Aufwand abhängig, der für die Erschließung der Ergebnisse erforderlich ist. Die meisten der Teilnehmer bewerten den Aufwand im Verhältnis zu den erwarteten Vorteilen jedoch als angemessen. Mögliche Barrieren für die Wissensteilung können aus der Befürchtung entstehen, die Kontrolle über die Interpretation der Ergebnisse zu verlieren, sowie aus der Wahrnehmung als öffentliche Kritik an den jeweiligen Produktverantwortlichen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit können dabei helfen, die Unterstützung für die Nutzung von Usability-Ergebnissen als Wissensressource auf die erhobenen Anwendungsfälle auszurichten. Dafür werden Empfehlungen zu möglichen Ausrichtungen eines Usability-Informationssystems in Organisationen gegeben. Die Ergebnisse verweisen außerdem auf das große Potenzial für weitere Forschungsvorhaben in diesem Bereich, sowohl in Hinblick auf eine bessere Unterstützung des Wissensmanagements von Usability-Ergebnissen als auch in Bezug auf die Übertragung der grundlegenden Erkenntnisse dieser Arbeit auf andere Anwendungsdomänen, etwa im Bereich des Managements von Forschungsdaten.User centered software development provides organizations with valuable insights about the users of their software, about their work tasks and the various contexts in which a product is used. This dissertation explores how organizations can profit even more from such results in the long term by using them as an internal knowledge resource for improving the usability of future products and for increasing the efficiency of user centered processes. This topic will be investigated for in-house usability consultants as the primary target group of such a resource. In-house consultants are responsible for the quality of the products developed in their company, and the sustainable management of internal usability results therefore is of particular interest to them. In the research field of human computer interaction and user centered design, several approaches have already been proposed which can be used to systematize usability results in order to pursue a variety of goals (e.g. Hughes 2006; Douglas 2007; Vilbergsdottir et al. 2014). The User Action Framework (Andre et al. 2001) is an important contribution in this area. Its implementation, however, may prove to be difficult for many organizations because applying it was found to be resource intensive (Hornbæk et al., 2008). Other classification systems for usability problems have predominantly been in use in scientific studies on the evaluation of usability methods (e. g. Lavery et al. 1997; Hornbæk & Frøkjær 2008). These approaches have not been widely adopted because of the efforts involved in applying them, and because they do not take into account relevant use cases for usability information in organizations. The identification of use cases for the internal application of usability results therefore constitutes an important research question of this dissertation (research question RQ1). Qualitative interviews with in-house usability consultants (n=8) as well as focus groups in two organizations are conducted in order to investigate this question and to elicit usage requirements of an usability information system (research question RQ2). A prototypical usability information system implements these requirements based on a set of realistic usability results. The system and the proposed requirements are evaluated in an additional study with usability consultants (n=11). In the context of this study, criteria for reusing and generalizing usability results can be examined from the point of view of the participants (research question RQ3). In addition, the factors and barriers influencing the process of sharing and using usability knowledge have been investigated (research question RQ4). Results demonstrate that usability results have already been collected and applied to different use cases in many organizations (RQ1), including their direct application to current design decisions, learning and exploration, analytic questions, and the creation of internal usability standards. The organization of usability results (RQ2) requires a combination of product-specific characteristics with more general attributes as metadata for search and analysis. Results from user studies should be linked to the underlying empirical data and to the resulting design recommendations. Requirements for information interaction include support for the targeted search for usability results, dealing with potentially unknown or changing terminology, as well as possibilities for exploratory search and learning. If results are collected comprehensively in an organization, features for information analysis can be used to support the improvement of development processes. A number of different criteria are used to assess the reliability of usability results and the fit between the context in which a result was elicited and the context to which the result is to be applied. These aspects together provide the basis for deciding about the transferability of results (RQ3). Acceptance of the application of usability results as an information resource (RQ4) primarily depends on the amount of effort which is required for documenting these results. However, most participants expect the benefits to outweigh these efforts. Possible barriers for sharing usability results also include concerns about the loss of control over their interpretation as well as the perception of published results as criticism by those who are responsible for a product. In addition to describing existing practices, the results of this dissertation are intended to offer assistance for the application of usability results as an information resource in different use cases. Accordingly, recommendations about different categories of usability information systems are presented. The findings indicate further possibilities for research with the goal of improving knowledge management for usability results and may also be applied to other domains such as research data management