Creating realistic map-like visualisations: Results from user studies. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pang, Patrick Cheong-Iao; Biuk-Aghai, Robert P.; Yang, Muye; Pang, Bin
• Is Part Of: Journal of visual languages & computing. Volume 43(2017)
• Page Start: 60
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Maps -- Information visualisation -- Map-like visualisation -- Hexagon tiling algorithm; Visual programming languages (Computer science) -- Periodicals; Visual programming (Computer science) -- Periodicals; Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Semantics -- Periodicals; Langages de programmation visuelle -- Périodiques; Programmation visuelle -- Périodiques; Langages de programmation -- Sémantique -- Périodiques; Programming languages (Electronic computers) -- Semantics; Visual programming (Computer science); Visual programming languages (Computer science); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvlc.2017.09.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-926X

Abstract

Abstract: Maps have traditionally been used for displaying geographical information. However, apart from this obvious purpose, the metaphor of maps has been applied to other uses, such as information visualisation and novel user interfaces, since the map metaphor is easy-to-understand and allows users to explore data intuitively. There are several methods for creating these map-like visualisations and user interfaces, but there is little understanding on how people perceive these non-geographical maps, and how to make the visualisation output more realistic. As such, we aim to find preliminary answers on these issues by conducting user studies with a series of map-like visualisations. In this paper, we report on the results of the studies and reveal the factors that have an impact on the human perception of visualisations that are designed to resemble geographic maps. Based on these results, we propose design suggestions for building realistic map-like visualisations.