/[gzz]/manuscripts/FilletArt/filletart.rst
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revision 1.3 by jvk, Fri May 2 11:53:09 2003 UTC revision 1.4 by jvk, Sat May 10 14:50:03 2003 UTC
# Line 39  Filleting is an instance of a more gener Line 39  Filleting is an instance of a more gener
39  known as *blending* - creating surfaces that  known as *blending* - creating surfaces that
40  meet several existing surfaces smoothly.  meet several existing surfaces smoothly.
41    
42    Displaying relationships between nodes by lines or arcs is efficient as
43    physical connection makes the nodes to be perceived as parts of a single
44    object, according to the law of connectivity (one of the laws of
45    perceptual organization). Therefore, the viewer needs no conscious effort
46    to perceive the semantic relationship between the nodes. Fillets aim to
47    enhance the perception of connectivity by implementing the connecting
48    lines with continuity. The node and the connecting line form one object,
49    without an abrupt disruption in perception, thus making it easy to follow
50    the connection between nodes.
51    
52  Our use of fillets is entertainingly analogous to the use in mechanical  Our use of fillets is entertainingly analogous to the use in mechanical
53  engineering: fillets ensure that the human perception system  engineering: fillets ensure that the human perception system
54  doesn't break an object and a connection starting  doesn't break an object and a connection starting
# Line 50  continuation. Smoothly changing contours Line 60  continuation. Smoothly changing contours
60  grouping of visual elements, in this case,  grouping of visual elements, in this case,
61  grouping of the node and the connection.  grouping of the node and the connection.
62    
63    The only disruptions in a fillet graph will be when the connections cross
64    each other. Line crossing is one serious factor making it hard to read
65    complex node-link graphs. With fillets, tracing a connection is
66    perceptually easy even if it crosses with other connections.
67    
68    We tested the easiness of perceiving fillets in a controlled laboratory
69    experiment with ten naïve participants. Eight different graphs were
70    tested, of which one was implemented with "perfect" fillets. The other
71    seven graphs were "incomplete" fillets or different common node-link
72    graphs lacking visual continuity. All types of the graphs were implemented
73    in three different sizes. The task of the participants was to recognize as
74    fast as possible a connection going behind a node. There was only one
75    target connection in a graph. A participant performed this task 24 times
76    per graph type.
77    
78    We found that among these eight graph types, fillets did indeed enable the
79    fastest perception of connection going behind a node. This indicates that
80    fillets have such inherent properties that can help perceiving the
81    structure of node-link graphs and thus understanding their contents, as
82    these two are closely intertwined. We plan to carry more experiments to
83    prove the efficiency of fillets also in more realistic use situations.
84    Results from earlier research (Irani & Ware, 2003) indicate that more
85    natural-looking nodes and links improve users' recall of the structure of
86    the graph. We expect that fillets will prove their usefulness in tracing
87    connections in graphs but also comperehending the structure and possibly
88    the contents of the graphs.
89    
90    
91    Irani, P. & Ware, C. (2003). Diagramming Information Structures Using 3D
92    Perceptual Primitives. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction,
93    Vol. 10, No. 1, March 2003, Pages 1-19.
94    
95    
96      Figure: ambiguity, 1/2 page      Figure: ambiguity, 1/2 page

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