366 research outputs found
Fast Algorithms for Constructing Maximum Entropy Summary Trees
Karloff? and Shirley recently proposed summary trees as a new way to
visualize large rooted trees (Eurovis 2013) and gave algorithms for generating
a maximum-entropy k-node summary tree of an input n-node rooted tree. However,
the algorithm generating optimal summary trees was only pseudo-polynomial (and
worked only for integral weights); the authors left open existence of a
olynomial-time algorithm. In addition, the authors provided an additive
approximation algorithm and a greedy heuristic, both working on real weights.
This paper shows how to construct maximum entropy k-node summary trees in time
O(k^2 n + n log n) for real weights (indeed, as small as the time bound for the
greedy heuristic given previously); how to speed up the approximation algorithm
so that it runs in time O(n + (k^4/eps?) log(k/eps?)), and how to speed up the
greedy algorithm so as to run in time O(kn + n log n). Altogether, these
results make summary trees a much more practical tool than before.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures. Extended version of paper appearing in ICALP
201
On Regulatory and Organizational Constraints in Visualization Design and Evaluation
Problem-based visualization research provides explicit guidance toward
identifying and designing for the needs of users, but absent is more concrete
guidance toward factors external to a user's needs that also have implications
for visualization design and evaluation. This lack of more explicit guidance
can leave visualization researchers and practitioners vulnerable to unforeseen
constraints beyond the user's needs that can affect the validity of
evaluations, or even lead to the premature termination of a project. Here we
explore two types of external constraints in depth, regulatory and
organizational constraints, and describe how these constraints impact
visualization design and evaluation. By borrowing from techniques in software
development, project management, and visualization research we recommend
strategies for identifying, mitigating, and evaluating these external
constraints through a design study methodology. Finally, we present an
application of those recommendations in a healthcare case study. We argue that
by explicitly incorporating external constraints into visualization design and
evaluation, researchers and practitioners can improve the utility and validity
of their visualization solution and improve the likelihood of successful
collaborations with industries where external constraints are more present.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, presented at BELIV workshop associated with IEEE
VIS 201
Data-First Visualization Design Studies
We introduce the notion of a data-first design study which is triggered by
the acquisition of real-world data instead of specific stakeholder analysis
questions. We propose an adaptation of the design study methodology framework
to provide practical guidance and to aid transferability to other data-first
design processes. We discuss opportunities and risks by reflecting on two of
our own data-first design studies. We review 64 previous design studies and
identify 16 of them as edge cases with characteristics that may indicate a
data-first design process in action
Reflections on QuestVis: A Visualization System for an Environmental Sustainability Model
We present lessons learned from the iterative design of QuestVis, a visualization interface for the QUEST environmental sustainability model. The QUEST model predicts the effects of policy choices in the present using scenarios of future outcomes that consist of several hundred indicators. QuestVis treats this information as a high-dimensional dataset, and shows the relationship between input choices and output indicators using linked views and a compact multilevel browser for indicator values. A first prototype also featured an overview of the space of all possible scenarios based on dimensionality reduction, but this representation was deemed to be be inappropriate for a target audience of people unfamiliar with data analysis. A second prototype with a considerably simplified and streamlined interface was created that supported comparison between multiple scenarios using a flexible approach to aggregation. However, QuestVis was not deployed because of a mismatch between the design goals of the project and the true needs of the target user community, who did not need to carry out detailed analysis of the high-dimensional dataset. We discuss this breakdown in the context of a nested model for visualization design and evaluation
Health Literacy and Discharge Planning in Social Work Practice
Low health literacy is a public health crisis, currently, there is limited research on social worker engagement with the low health literate patient. The research questions for this study examined health literacy knowledge in medical social workers and how their MSW curricula built their knowledge of health literacy. It also explored challenges that arise when discharge planning for patients with low health literacy. It also asked what social workers can do to aid patients with limited health literacy during the discharge planning process. This basic qualitative research study used criterion sampling and was informed by the socioecological model. Data collection used 2 focus groups of 12 medical social workers comprised of 11 females and 1 male. Data analysis occurred by categorizing the data then classifying the data into themes based on the research question. Key findings include: (a) social workers have a medium to high level of health literacy; (b) MSW curricula would benefit from health literacy knowledge; and (c) challenges occur in discharge planning with people with low health literacy that include overall knowledge and attitudes of health literacy, sociodemographic variables, and lack of preventative health. Recommendations include standardizing healthcare social worker roles and providing educational opportunities in MSW curricula on health literacy. Implications for social change include improved health outcomes, empowering individuals to take personal responsibility for their healthcare which in the long run can help them overcome chronic disease and other health related anomalies. Social change may be seen with hospital health literacy screening to reduce hospital readmissions decreasing individual healthcare costs and reduce societal healthcare costs
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