Browsing by Author "Shneiderman, Ben"
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Item The Alphaslider: A Compact and Rapid Selector(1998-10-15) Ahlberg, Christopher; Shneiderman, BenResearch has suggested that rapid, serial, visual presentation of text (RSVP) may be an effective way to scan and search through lists of text strings in search of words, names, etc. The Alphaslider widget employs RSVP as a method for rapidly scanning and searching lists or menus in a graphical user interface environment. The Alphaslider only uses an area less than 7 x 2.5 cm2. The tiny size of the Alphaslider allows it to be placed on a credit card, on a control panel for a VCR, or as a widget in a direct manipulation based database interface. An experiment was conducted with four Alphaslider designs which showed that novice Alphaslider users could locate one item in a list of 10,000 film titles in 24 seconds on average, an expert user in about 13 seconds. (Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-684) (Also cross-referenced as ISR-TR-93-72)Item AlphaSlider: Searching Textual Lists with Sliders(1998-10-15) Osada, Masakazu; Liao, Holmes; Shneiderman, BenAlphaSlider is a query interface that uses a direct manipulation slider to select words, phrases, or names from an existing list. This paper introduces a prototype of AlphaSlider, describes the design issues, reports on an experimental evaluation, and offers directions for further research. The experiment tested 24 subjects selecting items from lists of 40, 80, 160, and 320 entries. Mean selection times only doubled with the 8-fold increase in list length. Users quickly accommodated to this selection method. (Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-637) (Also cross-referenced as ISR-TR-93-52)Item Assessing users' subjective satisfaction with the Information System for Youth Services (ISYS)(1998-10-15) Slaughter, Laura; Norman, Kent L.; Shneiderman, BenIn this investigation, the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS 5.5), a tool for assessing users' subjective satisfaction with specific aspects of the human/computer interface was used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Info rmation System for Youth Services (ISYS). ISYS is used by over 600 employees of the Maryland State Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) as a tracking device for juvenile offenders. Ratings and comments were collected from 254 DJS employees who use ISYS. The overall mean rating across all questions was 5.1 on a one to nine scale. The ten highest and lowest rated questions were identified. The QUIS allowed us to isolate subgroups which were compared with mean ratings from four measures of specific interfac e factors. The comments obtained from users provided suggestions, complaints and endorsements of the system. Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-768Item An Augmented Visual Query Mechanism for Finding Patterns in Time Series Data(2002-09-18) Keogh, Eamonn; Hochheiser, Harry; Shneiderman, BenRelatively few query tools exist for data exploration and pattern identification in time series data sets. In previous work we introduced Timeboxes. Timeboxes are rectangular, direct-manipulation queries for studying time-series datasets. We demonstrated how Timeboxes can be used to support interactive exploration via dynamic queries, along with overviews of query results and drag-and-drop support for query-by-example. In this paper, we extend our work by introducing Variable Time Timeboxes (VTT). VTTs are a natural generalization of Timeboxes, which permit the specification of queries that allow a degree of uncertainty in the time axis. We carefully motivate the need for these more expressive queries, and demonstrate the utility of our approach on several data sets. (Also UMIACS-TR-2002-78) (Also HCI-TR-2002-15)Item An Augmented Visual Query Mechanism for Finding Patterns in Time Series Data (2002)(2005) Keogh, Eamonn; Hochheiser, Harry; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRRelatively few query tools exist for data exploration and pattern identification in time series data sets. In previous work we introduced Timeboxes. Timeboxes are rectangular, direct-manipulation queries for studying time-series datasets. We demonstrated how Timeboxes can be used to support interactive exploration via dynamic queries, along with overviews of query results and drag-and-drop support for query-by-example. In this paper, we extend our work by introducing Variable Time Timeboxes (VTT). VTTs are a natural generalization of Timeboxes, which permit the specification of queries that allow a degree of uncertainty in the time axis. We carefully motivate the need for these more expressive queries, and demonstrate the utility of our approach on several data sets.Item Bi-Level Hierarchical Layouts for Photo Libraries: Algorithms for Design Optimization with Quantum Content(2005) Kustanowitz, Jack; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRA frequently-used layout for a collection of two-dimensional, fixed aspect-ratio objects, such as photo thumbnails, is the grid, in which rows and columns are configured to match the allowed space. However, in cases where these objects have some group relationship among them, it can be advantageous to show this relationship in the layout, rather than in textual captions. We use an annotated digital photo collection as a case study of an auto-layout technique in which a two-level hierarchy is generated, consisting of a primary, central region with secondary regions (typically 2-12 regions) surrounding it. We show that given specific requirements, this technique is also optimal, in the sense that it will generate the largest size for the objects. Since all objects are the same size we refer to them as quantum content. These algorithms are designed to be real-time, enabling a compelling interactive display as users resize the canvas, or move and resize the primary region. The interactive redisplay also occurs as users add regions or objects to a secondary region.Item Bridging the Digital Divide with Universal Usability(2003-01-21) Shneiderman, BenHow do you explain a trashcan to a culture that doesn't have one? How do you describe a "stop loss limit order" to retirees managing their funds? Can you design a text-only interface that conveys the contents and experience of an animated Flash presentation? These puzzles emerged during the first ACM Conference on Universal Usability (http://www.acm.org/sigchi/cuu/), held on November 15-17, 2000 near Washington, DC. The international group of organizers, presenters, and attendees of this conference shared an unusual commitment and passion for making information and communications services accessible, usable, and useful. They want to see effective healthcare services and appealing distance education. They want to create successful e-commerce and accessible government services for all. Realizing these possibilities requires more than low-cost hardware or broadband networks. These mass-market services are often too complex, unusable, or irrelevant for too many users [1]; usability and design become the keys to success. (UMIACS-TR-2001-83) (HCIL-TR-2001-01)Item Bridging the Digital Divide with Universal Usability (2001)(2005) Shneiderman, Ben; ISRHow do you explain a trashcan to a culture that doesn have one? How do you describe a top loss limit orderto retirees managing their funds? Can you design a text-only interface that conveys the contents and experience of an animated Flash presentation?These puzzles emerged during the first ACM Conference on Universal Usability (http://www.acm.org/sigchi/cuu/), held on November 15-17, 2000 near Washington, DC. The international group of organizers, presenters, and attendees of this conference shared an unusual commitment and passion for making information and communications services accessible, usable, and useful. They want to see effective healthcare services and appealing distance education. They want to create successful e-commerce and accessible government services for all. Realizing these possibilities requires more than low-cost hardware or broadband networks. These mass- market services are often too complex, unusable, or irrelevant for too many users; usability and design become the keys to success.
The source of these problems was often attributed to designers who make incorrect assumptions about user knowledge. This leads to difficulties with technical terminology and advanced concepts that are not balanced by adequate online help or live assistance. Unfortunately, most designers never see the pain they inflict on novice and even expert users. These problems have contributed to the growing digital divide in internet technology adoption levels between lowincome poorly-educated and high-income well-educated users [2]. Even as the gap between men and women internet users has been eliminated and the gap between young and old is shrinking, the slow adoption rates by poor and poorly educated users remains a problem. Low-cost equipment is needed, but progress in design will help make internet services more accessible to more people.
Item Broadening Access to Large Online Databases by Generalizing Query Previews (2000)(2005) Tanin, Egemen; Plaisant, Catherine; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRCompanies, government agencies, and other types of organizations are making their large databases available to the world over the Internet. Current database front-ends do not give users information about the distribution of data. This leads many users to waste time and network resources posing queries that have either zero-hit or mega-hit result sets. Query previews form a novel visual approach for browsing large databases. Query previews supply data distribution information about the database that is being searched and give continuous feedback about the size of the result set for the query as it is being formed. On the other hand, query previews use only a few pre-selected attributes of the database. The distribution information is displayed only on these attributes. Unfortunately, many databases are formed of numerous relations and attributes. This paper introduces a generalization of query previews. We allow users to browse all of the relations and attributes of a database using a hierarchical browser. Any of the attributes can be used to display the distribution information, making query previews applicable to many public online databases.Item Browsing Hierarchical Data with Multi-Level Dynamic Queries and Pruning(1998-10-15) Kumar, Harsha; Plaisant, Catherine; Shneiderman, BenUsers often must browse hierarchies with thousands of nodes in search of those that best match their information needs. The PDQ Tree-browser (Pruning with Dynamic Queries) visualization tool was specified, designed and developed for this purpose. This tool presents trees in two tightly-coupled views, one a detailed view and the other an overview. Users can use dynamic queries, a method for rapidly filtering data, to filter nodes at each level of the tree. The dynamic query panels are user-customizable. Subtrees of unselected nodes are pruned out, leading to compact views of relevant nodes. Usability testing of the PDQ Tree-browser, done with 8 subjects, helped assess strengths and identify possible improvements. The PDQ Tree-browser was used in Network Management (600 nodes) and UniversityFinder (1100 nodes) applications. A controlled experiment, with 24 subjects, showed that pruning significantly improved performance speed and subjective user satisfaction. Future research directions are suggested. (Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-772) (Also cross-referenced as ISR-TR-95-53)Item Browsing Large Online Data Tables Using Generalized Query Previews (2001)(2005) Tanin, Egemen; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRCompanies, 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.Item Browsing Unix Directories With Dynamic Queries: An Evaluation of Three Information Display Techniques(1998-10-15) Liao, Holmes; Osada, Masakazu; Shneiderman, BenWe designed, implemented, and evaluated an innovative concept for dynamic queries which involves the direct manipulation of small databases. Our domain was directories in a Unix file system. Dynamic queries allow users to formulate queries and explore the databases with graphical widgets, such as sliders and buttons, without requiring them to have any knowledge about the underlying structure of the database query languages, or command language syntax. Three interfaces for presenting directories were developed and tested with eighteen subjects in a within-subject design. The results of the formative evaluation yielded some useful guidelines for software designers. (Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-605)Item Building a Coherent Data Pipeline in Microarray Data Analyses: Optimization of Signal/Noise Ratios Using an Interactive Visualization Tool and a Novel Noise Filtering Method (2003)(2005) Seo, Jinwook; Bakay, Marina; Chen, Yi-Wen; Hilmer, Sara; Shneiderman, Ben; Hoffman, Eric P.; ISRMotivation: Sources of uncontrolled noise strongly influence data analysis in microarray studies, yet signal/noise ratios are rarely considered in microarray data analyses. We hypothesized that different research projects would have different sources and levels of confounding noise, and built an interactive visual analysis tool to test and define parameters in Affymetrix analyses that optimize the ratio of signal (desired biological variable) versus noise (confounding uncontrolled variables). Results: Five probe set algorithms were studied with and without statistical weighting of probe sets using Microarray Suite (MAS) 5.0 probe set detection p values. The signal/noise optimization method was tested in two large novel microarray datasets with different levels of confounding noise; a 105 sample U133A human muscle biopsy data set (11 groups) (extensive noise), and a 40 sample U74A inbred mouse lung data set (8 groups) (little noise). Success was measured using F-measure value of success of unsupervised clustering into appropriate biological groups (signal). We show that both probe set signal algorithm and probe set detection p-value weighting have a strong effect on signal/noise ratios, and that the different methods performed quite differently in the two data sets. Among the signal algorithms tested, dChip difference model with p-value weighting was the most consistent at maximizing the effect of the target biological variables on data interpretation of the two data sets. Availability: The Hierarchical Clustering Explorer 2.0 is [url=http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/hce/]available[/url] online and the improved version of the Hierarchical Clustering Explorer 2.0 with p-value weighting and Fmeasure is available upon request to the first author. Murine arrays (40 samples) are publicly available at the [url=http://microarray.cnmcresearch.org/pgadatatable.asp]PEPR resource.[/url] (Chen et al., 2004).Item Buttons vs. menus: An exploratory study of pull-down menu selection as compared to button bars(1998-10-15) Ellis, Jason; Tran, Chi; Ryoo, Jake; Shneiderman, BenButton bars are a relatively new interaction method intended to speed up application use as compared to pull-down menus. This exploratory study compares three command selection methods: pull-down menus, button bars, and user choice of pull-down menus or button bars. Effectiveness was measured in two ways: speed of selection and error rate. 15 participants performed 15 word processor related tasks. Results show that in frequently used functions, such as character attribute selection (bold, italic, u nderline, etc.), button bars are faster. There were no statistically significant differences in error rates between the three interaction methods. (Also cross-referenced as CAR-TR-764)Item Categorized Graphical Overviews for Web Search Results: An Exploratory Study using U.S. Government Agencies as a Meaningful and Stable Structure (2004)(2005) Kules, Bill; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRSearch engines are very effective at generating long lists of results that are highly relevant to user-provided query terms . But the lack of effective overviews presents challenges to users who seek to understand these results, especially for a complex task such as learning about a topic area, which requires gaining overviews of and exploring large sets of search results, identifying unusual documents, and understanding their context. Categorizing the results into comprehensible visual displays using meaningful and stable classifications can support user exploration and understanding of large sets of search results. This extended abstract presents a set of principles that we are developing for search result visualization. It also describes an exploratory study that investigated categorized overviews of search results for complex search tasks within the domain of U. S. government web sites, using a hierarchy based on the federal government organization.Item Codex, Memex, Genex: The pursuit of transformational technologies(1998-10-15) Shneiderman, BenHandwritten codexes or printed books transformed society by allowing users to preserve and transmit information. Today, leather-bound volumes and illuminated manuscripts are giving way to animated image maps and hot links. Vannevar Bush's memex has inspired the World Wide Web, which provides users with vast information resources and convenient communications. In looking to the future, we might again transform society by building genexes -- generators of excellence. Such inspirational environments would empower personal and collaborative creativity by enabling users to: - collect information from an existing domain of knowledge, - create innovations using advanced tools, - consult with peers or mentors in the field, and then - disseminate the results widely. This paper describes how a framework for an integrated set of software tools might support this four-phase model of creativity in science, medicine, the arts, and beyond. Current initiatives are positive and encouraging, but they do not work in an integrated fashion, often miss vital components, and are frequently poorly designed. A well-conceived and clearly-stated framework could guide design efforts, coordinate planning, and speed development. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-97-89)Item A Comparison of Voice Controlled and Mouse Controlled Web Browsing(2000-09-25) Christian, Kevin; Kules, Bill; Shneiderman, Ben; Youssef, AdelVoice controlled web browsers allow users to navigate by speaking the text of a link or an associated number instead of clicking with a mouse. One such browser is Conversa, by Conversational Computing. This within subjects study with 18 subjects compared voice browsing with traditional mouse-based browsing. It attempted to identify which of three common hypertext forms (linear slide show, grid/tiled map, and hierarchical menu) are well suited to voice navigation, and whether voice navigation is helped by numbering links. The study shows that voice control adds approximately 50% to the performance time for certain types of tasks. Subjective satisfaction measures indicate that for voice browsing, textual links are preferable to numbered links. Keywords : Human-computer interaction, user interfaces, voice browsers, voice recognition, web browsing (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-2000-69)Item A Comparison of Voice Controlled and Mouse Controlled Web Browsing (2000)(2005) Christian, Kevin; Kules, Bill; Shneiderman, Ben; Youssef, Adel; ISRVoice controlled web browsers allow users to navigate by speaking the text of a link or an associated number instead of clicking with a mouse. One such browser is Conversa, by Conversational Computing. This within subjects study with 18 subjects compared voice browsing with traditional mouse-based browsing. It attempted to identify which of three common hypertext forms (linear slide show, grid/tiled map, and hierarchical menu) are well suited to voice navigation, and whether voice navigation is helped by numbering links. The study shows that voice control adds approximately 50 percent to the performance time for certain types of tasks. Subjective satisfaction measures indicate that for voice browsing, textual links are preferable to numbered links.Item Coordinating Overviews and Detail Views of WWW Log Data (2000)(2005) Hochheiser, Harry; Shneiderman, Ben; ISRWeb server log analysis tools provide site operators with useful information regarding the visitors to their sites. Unfortunately, the utility of these tools is often limited by the use of aggregate summaries that hide the information associated with individual requests, and by the absence of contextual data that might help users interpret those summaries. Building upon earlier work in the use of starfield visualizations to display web site requests as individual data points [8], this paper describes the use of multiple-coordinated visualizations of web log data at varying granularities, and alongside additional related displays of appropriate contextual information.Item Creating Creativity for Everyone: User Interfaces for Supporting Innovation(1999-02-04) Shneiderman, BenA challenge for human-computer interaction researchers and user interface designers is to construct information technologies that support creativity. This ambitious goal can be attained by building on an adequate understanding of creative processes. This paper offers the four-phase genex framework for generating excellence: - Collect: learn from previous works stored in digital libraries - Relate: consult with peers and mentors at early, middle and late stages - Create: explore, compose, and evaluate possible solutions - Donate: disseminate the results and contribute to the digital libraries Within this integrated framework, this paper proposes eight activities that require human-computer interaction research and advanced user interface design. A scenario about an architect illustrates the process of creative work within a genex environment. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-9910)