Perceptual and interpretative properties of motion for information visualization (original) (raw)
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The Role of Movement in Data Visualization: Animation as an Agent of Meaning
2CO : COmmunicating COmplexity Contributions from the 2017 Tenerife Conference, 2017
If we look at data visualizations as signifying machines, in which every element is meaningful, what is the contribution of animation to the construction of meaning? What does motion or animation add in terms of significance to different kinds of graphics? Does it add something in terms of realism? How can animation be an implementer of meaning, dramatizing the sense of data or expressing doubt about the data itself?
The Effect of Motion In Graphical User Interfaces
Smart Graphics, 2003
Motion can be an effective tool to focus user's attention and to support the parsing of complex information in graphical user interfaces. Despite the ubiquitous use of motion in animated displays, its effectiveness has been marginal at best. The ineffectiveness of many animated displays may be due to a mismatch between the attributes of motion and the nature of the task at hand. To test this hypothesis, we examined different modes of route presentation that are commonly used today (e.g. internet maps, GPS maps, etc.) and their effects on the subsequent route memory. Participants learned a route from a map of a fictitious town. The route was presented to them either as a solid line (static) or as a moving dot (dynamic). In a subsequent memory task, participants recalled fewer pertinent landmarks (i.e. landmarks at the turns) in the dynamic condition, likely due to the moving dot that focused equally on critical and less important parts of the route. A second study included a combined (i.e. both static and dynamic) presentation mode, which potentially had a better recall than either presentation mode alone. Additionally, verbalization data confirmed that the static presentation mode allocated the attention to the task relevant information better than the dynamic mode. These findings support the hypothesis that animated tasks are conceived of as sequences of discrete steps, and that the motion in animated displays inhibits the discretization process. The results also suggest that a combined presentation mode can unite the benefits of both static and dynamic modes.
Does interactivity improve exploratory data analysis of animated trend visualization ?
2014
Effectively analyzing trends of temporal data becomes a critical task especially when the amount of data is large. Motion techniques (animation) for scatterplots make it possible to represent lots of data in a single view and make it easy to identify trends and highlight changes. These techniques have recently become very popular and to an extent successful in describing data in presentations. However, compared to static methods of visualization, scatterplot animations may be hard to perceive when the motions are complex. This paper studies the effectiveness of interactive scatterplot animation as a visualization technique for data analysis of large data. We compared interactive animations with non-interactive (passive) animations where participants had no control over the animation. Both conditions were evaluated for specific as well as general comprehension of the data. While interactive animation was more effective for specific information analysis, it led to many misunderstandin...
Does interactivity improve exploratory data analysis of animated trend visualizations
Effectively analyzing trends of temporal data becomes a critical task especially when the amount of data is large. Motion techniques (animation) for scatterplots make it possible to represent lots of data in a single view and make it easy to identify trends and highlight changes. These techniques have recently become very popular and to an extent successful in describing data in presentations. However, compared to static methods of visualization, scatterplot animations may be hard to perceive when the motions are complex. This paper studies the effectiveness of interactive scatterplot animation as a visualization technique for data analysis of large data. We compared interactive animations with non-interactive (passive) animations where participants had no control over the animation. Both conditions were evaluated for specific as well as general comprehension of the data. While interactive animation was more effective for specific information analysis, it led to many misunderstandings in the overall comprehension due to the fragmentation of the animation. In general, participants felt that interactivity gave them more confidence and found it more enjoyable and exciting for data exploration.
Animation and data visualization: an analysis protocol proposal
InfoDesign, 2021
Animation can have a range of purposes when applied to data visualization. It can be used to enhance a chart's readability, make it more appealing, or aid the narrative storytelling. The objective of this paper is to understand the different ways researchers have found to describe the use of animation as a tool for data visualization, and how these approaches interact with one another. Thus, an analysis protocol was established-based on definitions by Munzner, Heer & Robertson, Schwabish, and other researchers in the field-and it was applied to real examples in order to test its ability to identify and categorize types of animation and their uses. It is expected that this analysis protocol could be used as a resource for data visualization professionals and enthusiasts, students, and other interested parties who could benefit from a deeper examination of the theme.
Computer Graphics Forum, 2012
We present a study of interactive virtual reality visualizations of scientific motions as found in biomechanics experiments. Our approach is threefold. First, we define a taxonomy of motion visualizations organized by the method (animation, interaction, or static presentation) used to depict both the spatial and temporal dimensions of the data. Second, we design and implement a set of eight example visualizations suggested by the taxonomy and evaluate their utility in a quantitative user study. Third, together with biomechanics collaborators, we conduct a qualitative evaluation of the eight example visualizations applied to a current study of human spinal kinematics. Results suggest that visualizations in this style that use interactive control for the time dimension of the data are preferable to others. Within this category, quantitative results support the utility of both animated and interactive depictions for space; however, qualitative feedback suggest that animated depictions for space should be avoided in biomechanics applications.
In this paper we discuss the concept of ecological strategy in relation to cognitive artefacts that reflect the expressive power of learners engaged in the development of significant knowledge paths. Our experiments show that learners strive to make sense of the fragmentary information surrounding them and in this endeavour they may benefit from the creation of knowledge maps, i.e. branched structures of knowledge that depart from a central node, a starting point or a homepage. In the course of creating these fractal hyperspaces on the Web, with integration of varied multimedia materials, the range of cognitive strategies used during the learning process becomes evident, both at individual and collective level. Perhaps ecological strategies may encourage a new research approach regarding the study of knowledge construction within complex hypermedia environments.
International Journal of Human- …, 2002
Graphics have been used since ancient times to portray things that are inherently spatiovisual, like maps and building plans. More recently, graphics have been used to portray things that are metaphorically spatiovisual, like graphs and organizational charts. The assumption is that graphics can facilitate comprehension, learning, memory, communication and inference. Assumptions aside, research on static graphics has shown that only carefully designed and appropriate graphics prove to be beneficial for conveying complex systems. Effective graphics conform to the Congruence Principle according to which the content and format of the graphic should correspond to the content and format of the concepts to be conveyed. From this, it follows that animated graphics should be effective in portraying change over time. Yet the research on the efficacy of animated over static graphics is not encouraging. In cases where animated graphics seem superior to static ones, scrutiny reveals lack of equivalence between animated and static graphics in content or procedures; the animated graphics convey more information or involve interactivity. Animations of events may be ineffective because animations violate the second principle of good graphics, the Apprehension Principle, according to which graphics should be accurately perceived and appropriately conceived. Animations are often too complex or too fast to be accurately perceived. Moreover, many continuous events are conceived of as sequences of discrete steps. Judicious use of interactivity may overcome both these disadvantages. Animations may be more effective than comparable static graphics in situations other than conveying complex systems, for example, for real time reorientations in time and space. #
Facilitating Understanding of Movements in Dynamic Visualizations: an Embodied Perspective
Educational Psychology Review
Learners studying mechanical or technical processes via dynamic visualizations often fail to build an accurate mental representation of the system’s movements. Based on embodied theories of cognition assuming that action, perception, and cognition are closely intertwined, this paper proposes that the learning effectiveness of dynamic visualizations could be enhanced by grounding the movements of the presentation in people’s own bodily experiences during learning. We discuss recent research on embodied cognition and provide specific strategies for how the body can be used to ground movements during the learning process: (1) making or observing gestures, (2) manipulating and interacting with objects, (3) using body metaphors, and (4) using eye movements as retrieval cues. Implications for the design of dynamic visualizations as well as directions for future research are presented.