Categorisation of visualisation methods to support the design of Human-Computer Interaction Systems

Katie Li,Ashutosh Tiwari,Jeffrey Alcock,Pablo Bermell-Garcia

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2016.01.009

Katie Li, Ashutosh Tiwari + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2016.01.009

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Journal: Applied Ergonomics	Publication Date: Feb 2, 2016
Citations: 67	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Cranfield University

Abstract

During the design of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) systems, the creation of visual artefacts forms an important part of design. On one hand producing a visual artefact has a number of advantages: it helps designers to externalise their thought and acts as a common language between different stakeholders. On the other hand, if an inappropriate visualisation method is employed it could hinder the design process. To support the design of HCI systems, this paper reviews the categorisation of visualisation methods used in HCI. A keyword search is conducted to identify a) current HCI design methods, b) approaches of selecting these methods. The resulting design methods are filtered to create a list of just visualisation methods. These are then categorised using the approaches identified in (b). As a result 23 HCI visualisation methods are identified and categorised in 5 selection approaches (The Recipient, Primary Purpose, Visual Archetype, Interaction Type, and The Design Process).

Highlights

As a discipline, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has historically involved people from different fields (Lazar et al, 2010; Wania et al, 2007; Seffah et al, 2005; Carroll, 2003; Adamczyk and Twidale, 2007)
This paper adopts the definition of Lengler and Eppler (2007, p.1) and defines a visualisation method as “... a systematic, rulebased, external, permanent, and graphic representation that depicts information in a way that is conducive to acquiring insights, Abbreviations: HCI, Human-Computer Interaction; UCD, user centric design; SD, Service Design; IxD, Interaction Design
This paper focused on HCI visualisation methods in websites and published literature, which means that the methods identified may not necessarily be the most novel ones used by practising designers

Summary

Introduction

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has historically involved people from different fields (Lazar et al, 2010; Wania et al, 2007; Seffah et al, 2005; Carroll, 2003; Adamczyk and Twidale, 2007). Even though designing with people of varying background and expertise can help bring different perspectives together to generate new ideas (Rogers et al, 2011), it can hinder the collaboration if the team members are restricted by discipline language and design approaches (Haesen et al, 2010; Mendel, 2012). A systematic, rulebased, external, permanent, and graphic representation that depicts information in a way that is conducive to acquiring insights, Abbreviations: HCI, Human-Computer Interaction; UCD, user centric design; SD, Service Design; IxD, Interaction Design. The adoption of visualisation methods in design has a number of advantages, including: Visualising something externalises your understanding. Externalising internal understanding aids the sharing of knowledge. The creation of visual artefacts acts to elicit information from users, which may otherwise be difficult to capture (Sanders and William, 2003)

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Discussion

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