Abstract
We investigate how people discover the functionality of an interactive visualization that was designed for the general public. While interactive visualizations are increasingly available for public use, we still know little about how the general public discovers what they can do with these visualizations and what interactions are available. Developing a better understanding of this discovery process can help inform the design of visualizations for the general public, which in turn can help make data more accessible. To unpack this problem, we conducted a lab study in which participants were free to use their own methods to discover the functionality of a connected set of interactive visualizations of public energy data. We collected eye movement data and interaction logs as well as video and audio recordings. By analyzing this combined data, we extract exploration strategies that the participants employed to discover the functionality in these interactive visualizations. These exploration strategies illuminate possible design directions for improving the discoverability of a visualization's functionality.
Highlights
Many governments worldwide strive to make their data available online in open formats
Based on our observations and the exploration strategies we identified, we review how our exploration strategies reveal design opportunities that may lead to the creation of more discoverable interactive visualizations
We focused on visualizations designed for public use and public engagement with open data, guidelines such as scaffolding complex interactions and providing entry points may not apply to visualizations used in professional data analysis contexts, where explicit training is more common
Summary
Many governments worldwide strive to make their data available online in open formats. This open data movement has been pursued as a political priority in countries such as Canada [1], the United Kingdom [2], Germany [3], and the European Union as a whole [4] This data is typically only available in raw formats like spreadsheets and CSV files [5], making it hard for the general public to access and explore. Some examples include the OECD Better Life Index [7], the NCDRisc Height Map [8], the Crime Maps of UK cities [9], or the Live London Underground Map [10] It remains unclear how the general public makes use of these visualizations, and whether citizens are able to discover how to interact with them. Based on our exploration strategies, we contribute suggestions on how to design for discovery by inviting interaction, providing entry points, using spatial organization, combating oscillation, supporting transitions, and scaffolding complex interactions
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