Chapter 3 - Information Visualization and the Challenge of Universal Usability

Abstract

Information Visualization provides compact graphical presentations and user interfaces for interactively manipulating large numbers of items. This chapter presents a simple “data by tasks taxonomy” and discusses the challenges of providing “universal usability,” with example applications using geo-referenced data. Information Visualization allows designers to present a large amount of information using abstract representations. Geographic and scientific visualization applications usually use representations that are determined by the nature of the data being displayed. Information Visualization is becoming increasingly accessible to the general public and attention should be given to the goal of universal usability by enabling the widest range of users to benefit from the applications. Information Visualization has been shown to be a powerful visual thinking or decision tool and is becoming important for various services to reach and empower every citizen. Technological advances are needed to deal with user diversity (age, language, disabilities, etc.) but also with the variety of technology used (screen size, network speed, etc.) and the gaps in the user's knowledge (general knowledge, knowledge of the application domain and of the interface syntax or semantic). Universal usability is an ambitious long-term goal but many practical steps can be taken toward achieving it. Focusing on this problem will most likely lead to better technologies for everyone such as simpler interfaces, faster downloads, etc.