/[fenfire]/journals/plans/SA_2003.rst
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revision 1.126 by tjl, Wed May 14 10:19:04 2003 UTC revision 1.127 by jvk, Wed May 14 10:22:51 2003 UTC
# Line 278  to other programs and problems. Line 278  to other programs and problems.
278  Objectives and methods  Objectives and methods
279  ======================  ======================
280    
 Research methods in general  
 ---------------------------  
281    
282  Mathematical modeling  .. comment
 '''''''''''''''''''''  
283    
284  Most of the new user interface techniques are motivated by perceptual     Research methods in general
285  aspects such as texture perception, color perception,     ---------------------------
 Gestalt principles of grouping, etc.  
 To understand the  
 we need to model the properties of human visual perception  
 and cognition.  
286    
287  In this approach, we can apply the earlier experience     Mathematical modeling
288  on the MCMC and other sampling and modeling methods.     '''''''''''''''''''''
289    
290       Most of the new user interface techniques are motivated by perceptual
291       aspects such as texture perception, color perception,
292       Gestalt principles of grouping, etc.
293       To understand the
294       we need to model the properties of human visual perception
295       and cognition.
296    
297       In this approach, we can apply the earlier experience
298       on the MCMC and other sampling and modeling methods.
299    
 .. comment  
300    
301     For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual     For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual
302     connections between interface elements.     connections between interface elements.
303    
304    
305    
306  Usability experiments     Usability experiments
307  '''''''''''''''''''''     '''''''''''''''''''''
308    
309    .. - fillets more general testing
310       - paper distributions (color, etc.)
311       - irregu?
312       - controllers
313       - "stress-testing"?
314    
315    
316    
317    Objectives, hypotheses, and methods per sub-project
318    ---------------------------------------------------
319    
320    Because of the nature of this project, there are a num
321    
322    Fillets
323    '''''''
324    
325    TJL
326    
327    Fillets[lukka02fillets] for graph rendering were invented
328    in the Fenfire project at the time when we were
329    still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.
330    
331    Filleting, or rounding corners of surfaces, is
332    used in mechanical engineering to improve
333    the properties of cast objects.
334    Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams
335    is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good
336    continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual
337    grouping of visual elements, in this case,
338    grouping of the node and the connection.
339    
340    In situations where the graph layout is constrained,
341    e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes
342    are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without
343    altering the layout.
344    
345    
346  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interfaces is continuity.  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.
347  Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively  Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
348  coherent --- things are related to each other, not disconnected. This  coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This
349  reduces load in the user's working memory.  reduces load in the user's working memory.
350    
351  Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user  Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user
352  interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by  interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by
353  earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely  earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely
354  new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We  new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We
355  plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks  plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks
356  before implementing and testing them in a larger context.  before implementing and testing them in a larger context.
357    
358  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple
359  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex
360  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten
361  naïve participants per experiment. The data will include response times  naïve participants per experiment. The data will include response times
362  and error rates of the participants. In addition, surveys or short  and error rates of the participants. In addition, surveys or short
363  interviews can be used to collect the personal opinions of the  interviews can be used to collect the personal opinions of the
364  participants about the tested idea.  participants about the tested idea.
365    
366  In the next phase, the techniques will be tested in a more realistic  For example, fillets are designed to enhance perceivability of visual
367  situation.  connections between interface elements. Fillets have been tested in a
368    controlled experiment, showing that fillets do facilitate recognizing
369    certain visual structures in a collection of visual items and their
370    interconnections, compared to more common implementations. In the next
371    phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the
372    user to trace visual connections between information items.
373    
374    Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent
375    visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition
376    of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the
377    user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the
378    interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements
379    faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on
380    textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily
381    impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.
382    
383  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which
384  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed
385  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal
386  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.
387    
 .. - fillets more general testing  
    - paper distributions (color, etc.)  
    - irregu?  
    - controllers  
    - "stress-testing"?  
388    
389    Our earlier reseach has shown that filleting significantly
390    improves the perceivability of certain graph layouts.
391    We plan to obtain experimental justification and
392    to formulate principles of filleting
393    in more general layouts including curved connections
394    and smooth animation.
395    Generalizing filleting to three dimensions ...
396    
397        - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout
398    
399  Objectives, hypotheses, and methods per sub-project  Goals???
 ---------------------------------------------------  
400    
 Because of the nature of this project, there are a num  
401    
402  Buoys  Buoys
403  '''''  '''''
# Line 441  because it looks somewhat natural even t Line 496  because it looks somewhat natural even t
496  there is no real-world analogue.  there is no real-world analogue.
497    
498    
 Fillets  
 '''''''  
 TJL  
   
 Fillets[lukka02fillets] for graph rendering were invented  
 in the Fenfire project at the time when we were  
 still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.  
   
 Filleting, or rounding corners of surfaces, is  
 used in mechanical engineering to improve  
 the properties of cast objects.  
 Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams  
 is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good  
 continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual  
 grouping of visual elements, in this case,  
 grouping of the node and the connection.  
   
 In situations where the graph layout is constrained,  
 e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes  
 are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without  
 altering the layout.  
   
 Fillets have been tested in a  
 controlled experiment, showing that fillets do facilitate recognizing  
 certain visual structures in a collection of visual items and their  
 interconnections, compared to more common implementations. In the next  
 phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the  
 user to trace visual connections between information items.  
   
 XXX  
   
 Our earlier reseach has shown that filleting significantly  
 improves the perceivability of certain graph layouts.  
 We plan to obtain experimental justification and  
 to formulate principles of filleting  
 in more general layouts including curved connections  
 and smooth animation.  
 Generalizing filleting to three dimensions ...  
   
     - quantitative experimental results from general graphs layout  
   
 Goals???  
   
499  Text filtering  Text filtering
500  ''''''''''''''  ''''''''''''''
501    

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