The role of highlighting in visual search through maps (original) (raw)
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Applying models of visual search to map display design
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 2008
We explored how to use a computational model of visual search to design a map of a mall directory. We parameterized the Guided Search model . Guided Search 2.0: a revised model of visual search. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review 1(2), 202-238] for a task involving visual search of a target store in a map. The resulting model was then used to choose color assignments for all the elements of the display that would result in the fastest average search time for the display and search tasks. These predicted optimized color assignments were then tested empirically. The empirical data closely matched the predicted pattern of search times. We conclude that computational models of visual search are sophisticated enough to contribute to the development of optimized map designs, discuss some limitations of the current models, and suggest directions for further development. r
Searching through subsets: A test of the visual indexing hypothesis
1997
This paper presents three experiments investigating the claim that the visual system utilizes a primitive indexing mechanism (sometimes called FINSTS; to make non-contiguous features directly accessible for further visual processing. This claim is investigated using a variant of the conjunction search task in which subjects search among a subset of the items in a conjunction search display for targets defined by a conjunction of colour and orientation. The members of the subset were identified by virtue of the late onset of the objects' place-holders. The cued subset was manipulated to include either homogenous distractors or mixed distractors. Observers were able to select a subset of three items from among fifteen for further processing (Experiment 1); furthermore, a reaction time advantage for homogenous subsets over mixed subsets was observed, indicating that more than one of the subset is selected for further specialized processing. The homogeneous subset advantage held for subsets of two to five items (Experiment 2), and the time required to process the cued subset did not increase with increased dispersion of the items (Experiment 3). These results support the basic claim of the indexing theory: The claim that multiple visual indexes are used in selecting objects for visual processing.
Graphical displays: implications for divided attention, focused attention, and problem solving
Human factors, 1992
When completing tasks in complex, dynamic domains observers must consider the relationships among many variables (e.g., integrated tasks) as well as the values of individual variables (e.g., focused tasks). A critical issue in display design is whether or not a single display format can achieve the dual design goals of supporting performance at both types of tasks. We consider this issue from a variety of perspectives. One relevant perspective is the basic research on attention and object perception, which concentrates on the interaction between visual features and processing capabilities. The principles of configurality are discussed, with the conclusion that they support the possibility of achieving the dual design goals. These considerations are necessary but not sufficient for effective display design. Graphic displays map information from a domain into visual features; the tasks to be completed are defined in terms of the domain, not in terms of the visual features alone. The i...
Perceptual dependencies in information visualization assessed by complex visual search
ACM Transactions on Applied Perception, 2008
A common approach for visualizing data sets is to map them to images in which distinct data dimensions are mapped to distinct visual features, such as color, size and orientation. Here, we consider visualizations in which different data dimensions should receive equal weight and attention. Many of the end-user tasks performed on these images involve a form of visual search. Often, it is simply assumed that features can be judged independently of each other in such tasks. However, there is evidence for perceptual dependencies when simultaneously presenting multiple features. Such dependencies could potentially affect information visualizations that contain combinations of features for encoding information and, thereby, bias subjects into unequally weighting the relevance of different data dimensions. We experimentally assess (1) the presence of judgment dependencies in a visualization task (searching for a target node in a node-link diagram) and (2) how feature contrast relates to salience. From a visualization point of view, our most relevant findings are that (a) to equalize saliency (and thus bottom-up weighting) of size and color, color contrasts have to become very low. Moreover, orientation is less suitable for representing information that consists of a large range of data values, because it does not show a clear relationship between contrast and salience; (b) color and size are features that can be used independently to represent information, at least as far as the range of colors that were used in our study are concerned; (c) the concept of (static) feature salience hierarchies is wrong; how salient a feature is compared to another is not fixed, but a function of feature contrasts; (d) final decisions appear to be as good an indicator of perceptual performance as indicators based on measures obtained from individual fixations. Eye tracking, therefore, does not necessarily present a benefit for user studies that aim at evaluating performance in search tasks. ACM Reference Format: van den Berg, R., Cornelissen, F. W., Roerdink, J. B. T. M. 2007. Perceptual dependencies in information visualization assessed by complex visual search. ACM Trans.
Neuroscience of consciousness, 2018
Visual search is facilitated when display configurations are repeated over time, showing that memory of spatio-configural context can cue the location of the target. The present study investigates whether memory of the search target in relation to the configuration of distractors alters subjective experience of the visual search target and/or the subjective experience of the display configuration. Observers performed a masked localization task for targets embedded in repeated vs. non-repeated (baseline) arrays of distractors items. After the localization response, observers reported their subjective experience of either the target or the display configuration. Bayesian analysis revealed that repeated displays resulted in a stronger visual experience of both targets and display configurations. However, subsequent analysis showed that repeated search displays increased the correlation between the experience of the display configuration and localization accuracy, but there was no such ...
Map displays for information retrieval
Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 1997
The focus of this article is to develop a map display for to stack in the dark, without knowing what stacks that information retrieval. Through an examination of relawe have walked through. We can get a few books each tionships among visual displays, information retrieval, time and walk out of the library to see if the book we and browsing, advantages of visual displays for informaare searching for is among them. If not, we have to walk tion retrieval are characterized as (1) the ability to conin again, based on our knowledge and our previous experivey a large amount of information in a limited space, (2) the potential to reveal semantic relationships of terms ence, to a location where we hope the book would be. In and documents, and (3) the facilitation of browsing and this situation, success in finding a book greatly depends perceptual inferences on retrieval interfaces. These adon whether we can walk to the right place in the dark (to vantages are further demonstrated through a map disgenerate a good query), and whether we know how to play generated by a neural network's self-organizing aladjust our locations until we get to the right place (to gorithm. The map display detects complex relationships among given documents, and reveals the relationships modify queries interactively).
Colour in map displays: issues for task-specific display design
Interacting with Computers, 1995
Colour is generally regarded as a desirable property of computer displays chiefly because it supports users' preattentive visual processes, such as texture segregation, which rapidly organize and structure screen information. This paper examines the use of colour in computerized map displays of the sort used by geographic information systems. In particular, it focuses on the perception of patterns formed by subclasses of map symbols, defined by colour or shape. Three experiments are reported which confirm the utility of colour, but which also identify two potential problems: interference of taskirrelevant colour and superficial processing of spatial configurations of colour-defined symbols. These findings support a general argument that colour should not be preferred automatically, but rather its utility depends on the cognitive demands of the task for which the display is designed.