Information Visualization:
Design for Interaction, 2nd edition

By Robert Spence
Pearson Education
Distributed By Trans-Atlantic Publications
December 2006
ISBN: 9780132065504
304 pages, Illustrated
$142.00 Paper Original

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Description

Fully revised textbook on the rapidly growing field of Information Visualization. Its emphasis is on real-world examples and applications of computer-generated and interactive visualization.  Information visualization deals with representing concepts and data in a meaningful way. Depending on the medium used, information can be visualized in either static (e.g. a graph on a printed page) or dynamic forms. This book is appropriate for courses in information visualization, human-computer interaction, interaction design, and computer graphics.

Contents

Dedication
About the author
Other books by the author
Preface
Acknowledgements

Chapter 1  What is Visualization?

Visualization
Computational support
The Human User
The value of Information Visualization
Fraud; silicon chips; pharmaceuticals
Questions of Taxonomy
Issues
References
Exercises

Chapter 2  The Issues

The task
Nature of the problem
The data
Table presentation
Bargrams
Interactive object selection
Overview
Multiple attributes
Detail
Significant objects
Interactive attribute selection
Space limitations
Filtering
Taking stock
Navigational guidance
Movement in information space
Perception and interpretation
Summary
References
Exercises

Chapter 3  Representation

Data types
Data complexity
Perception and Cognition

3.1  Encoding of value
Univariate data
 A single number; a collection of numbers
Bivariate data
Trivariate data
 Scatterplot matrix
 Preattentive processing- things that ‘pop out’; choice of encoding
Hypervariate data
Coordinate plots
Scatterplot matrix
Linked histograms
Mosaic plots
Icons
Object and Attribute Visibility

3.2  Encoding of relation
Lines
Maps and diagrams
Venn diagrams
InfoCrystal
Cluster Maps
Tree representations
Cone tree
 Tree maps
 Hyperbolic browser
3.3  Support for design
References
 Exercises

Chapter 4  Presentation

A problem
The presentation issue

4.1  Space limitations
Scrolling
Overview plus detail
Distortion
Application
Generalization
Suppression
Combined distortion and suppression
Historical note
Zoom and Pan

4.2  Time limitations
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation
Briefly glimpsed images
Space and Time resources
Eye gaze
Presentation modes
Manual control
Models of human visual performance
Interaction design
References
Exercises

Chapter 5  Interaction

Scenarios
Spaces, interactions and balance of control
This chapter

5.1  Interaction Framework

5.2  Continuous interaction
Dynamically-triggered ‘pop-out’

5.3  Stepped interaction
Discrete information spaces
Stages of action
Navigation
Sensitivity
Residue
Scent
Where am I?
Path breadcrumbs; Location breadcrumbs
Guidance for design

5.4  Passive interaction
Static display
Browsing
Moving displays

5.5  Composite interaction
Influences
 The prosection

5.6  Interaction dynamics
Mental models
Blindness
Change blindness; Inattentional blindness; Design to counteract blindness
Visual momentum

5.7  Design for interaction
References
Exercises

Chapter 6  Case studies

Design
The case studies

6.1  Small interactive calendars
Planning your time
Design philosophy
Background
Calendar views
Interactive control
Search
Usability study
Observations
Satisfaction and preference
Usability

6.2  Selecting one from many
The problem
The task
Existing solutions
Bargrams
Affordances
EZChooser
Sensitivity
Related work
Evaluation
Comment

6.3  Web browsing through a keyhole
The problem
A solution
The RSVP Browser
System design
Evaluation
Discussion
Comment

6.4  Communication analysis
Command and Control
System requirements
The MIND tool
Exploratory analysis
Scenario
Conclusion

6.5  Archival galaxies
Large collections of documents
Background and requirements
Earlier work
Design decisions
Interaction and search
Layout
Evaluation
Exercises
Glossary
Video Clips

Features

§  First fully integrated 4-colour text in this field, using real-world examples and applications.
§  This is the only book to concentrate on interactive dynamic information visualization techniques.
§  Readers will learn how to display information to: pick out key information from large data streams; present ideas clearly and effectively; encourage data exploration and decision-making.
§  Clear writing style makes this a widely accessible, non-technical text needing no prior knowledge of mathematics, computing or statistics.
§  Companion Website.
§  Instructor resources including PowerPoint files with a wealth of images and diagrams taken from the book, and a collection of useful short video clips

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