/[fenfire]/journals/plans/SA_2003.rst
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revision 1.134 by hemppah, Wed May 14 11:44:38 2003 UTC revision 1.135 by tjl, Wed May 14 12:02:25 2003 UTC
# Line 123  Novel focus+context user interfaces Line 123  Novel focus+context user interfaces
123      as the central item and peripherally the connected locations.      as the central item and peripherally the connected locations.
124      Several of the new technologies in fenfire are related to user interfaces,      Several of the new technologies in fenfire are related to user interfaces,
125      in particular to showing the context visibly yet nonintrusively.      in particular to showing the context visibly yet nonintrusively.
126        Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user
127        interface (such as focus-context) have already been proved to be efficient by
128        earlier researchers. Several ideas presented in this research
129        plan are, however, genuinely
130        new and thus need to be subjected to rigorous experimenting and testing.
131    
132  Permanent data and peer-to-peer (P2P) information sharing  Permanent data and peer-to-peer (P2P) information sharing
133      Collaboration with even only      Collaboration with even only
# Line 327  Because of the nature of this project, t Line 332  Because of the nature of this project, t
332  Fillets  Fillets
333  '''''''  '''''''
334    
 TJL  
335    
336  Fillets[lukka02fillets] for graph rendering were invented  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.
337    Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively
338    coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This
339    reduces load in the user's working memory.
340    
341    Fillets [lukka02fillets]_ for graph rendering were invented
342  in the Fenfire project at the time when we were  in the Fenfire project at the time when we were
343  still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.  still working with Ted Nelson's ZigZag structure.
344    Originally the term filleting
345  Filleting, or rounding corners of surfaces, is  is used in mechanical engineering
346  used in mechanical engineering to improve  to denote
347    or rounding corners of surfaces
348    in order to improve
349  the properties of cast objects.  the properties of cast objects.
350    
351  Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams  Our use of the filleting for connections in graph-like diagrams
352  is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good  is motivated by the Gestalt principle of good
353  continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual  continuation. Smoothly changing contours enable more efficient perceptual
354  grouping of visual elements, in this case,  grouping of visual elements, in this case,
355  grouping of the node and the connection.  grouping of the node and the connection.
356    Especially in situations where the graph layout is constrained,
 In situations where the graph layout is constrained,  
357  e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes  e.g.~Focus+Context views or views where the coordinates of the nodes
358  are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without  are informative, fillets can clarify the relationships considerably without
359  altering the layout.  altering the layout.
360    
361    Fillets are already in use in the Fenfire project, but our earlier
362    research [lukka02fillets]_ has only scratched the surface; the idea has
363    opened several new possible directions for basic research.
364    There are several possible extensions of the basic idea: for example, using
365    some texturing to express the stretching of the filleted connection
366    to the user, or lighting and shadows
367    to provide a sense 3D shape of the smooth surface.
368    
369  One of the basic principles of the Fenfire user interface is continuity.  We plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks
 Continuity helps the user to perceive the interface as cognitively  
 coherent - things are related to each other, not disconnected. This  
 reduces load in the user's working memory.  
   
 Some of the ideas aiming to maintain continuity in the Fenfire user  
 interface (such as focus-context) have been proved to be efficient by  
 earlier researchers. Several ideas presented here are, however, genuinely  
 new and thus need to be subjected to rigor experimenting and testing. We  
 plan to test the usability of the ideas first in basic cognitive tasks  
370  before implementing and testing them in a larger context.  before implementing and testing them in a larger context.
   
371  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple  The first-phase experiments include tasks varying from very simple
372  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex  perceptual tasks (such as visual search and recognition) to more complex
373  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten  problem-solving tasks. The experiments will be conducted with about ten
# Line 376  interconnections, compared to more commo Line 384  interconnections, compared to more commo
384  phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the  phase, fillets will be tested in a more realistic situation requiring the
385  user to trace visual connections between information items.  user to trace visual connections between information items.
386    
 Textured backgrounds implement continuity by providing unique, permanent  
 visual context for interface elements to facilitate search and recognition  
 of the elements in prolonged use. Textures will be tested to show that the  
 user can implicitly memorize textures during interaction with the  
 interface elements and use this information to recognize the elements  
 faster and more accurately. We will also conduct readibility tests on  
 textures to show that a textured background of text does not necessarily  
 impair either the legibility or the readability of the text.  
   
387  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which  Finally, we will carry usability tests on a simulated interface, in which
388  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed  several ideas are implemented simultaneously. The users will be observed
389  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal  in realistic use situations. Behavioral data will be gathered in verbal
390  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.  protocols, videotaping, and surveys.
391    
   
 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???  
   
   
392  Buoys  Buoys
393  '''''  '''''
394    

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