B. L. William Wong

Multiple Viewpoints on Computer Supported Team Work: A Case Study on Ambulance Dispatch

A novel usability evaluation technique, Ontological Sketch Modelling (OSM), was applied to the analysis of systems used within a complex work setting, namely emergency medical dispatch. OSM focuses on the structure of the domain in question and the devices which are applied to that domain, in order to reason about the quality of fit between the two. This analysis shows how OSM can be used to identify misfits between domain (here incidents, ambulance calls and real-time call processing by ambulance service staff) and device (the computer aided dispatch system) in real work settings. We show how OSM can aid additional reasoning about the way in which a new or proposed computer system can both support and enhance existing work structures. The analysis presented here also yields important insights into both the still-developing OSM and the structure of emergency medical dispatch systems.

Interactive visualization for information analysis in medical diagnosis

This paper investigates to what extend the findings and solutions of information analysis in intelligence analysis can be applied and transferred into the medical diagnosis domains. Interactive visualization is proposed to address some of the problems faced by both domain. Its design issues related to selected common problems are then discussed in details. Finally, a visual sense making system INVISQUE is used as an example to illustrate how the interactive visualization can be used to support information analysis and medical diagnosis.

Conceptual framework and models for identifying and organizing usability impact factors of mobile phones

Usability has been regarded as a critical factor affecting the quality of mobile phones. Many studies have examined usability impact factors of mobile phones on the basis of software usability concepts. However, considering mobile phones as multi-media and information appliances, a new usability concept and associated factors should be developed. This paper proposes a conceptual framework which has five views to reflect different aspect of interactions between users and mobile phones, and from which various usability impact factor models can be derived. Five views include user view, product view, interaction view, dynamic view, and execution view. Furthermore, we developed a hierarchical model which organizes usability factors in terms of goal-means relations. Through two case studies, we could verify the usefulness of the framework and model. Lastly, we developed a set of checklists that are helpful to measure the usability of mobile phones, thereby increasing the practicality of the framework and model.

An Extensible Framework for Provenance in Human Terrain Visual Analytics

We describe and demonstrate an extensible framework that supports data exploration and provenance in the context of Human Terrain Analysis (HTA). Working closely with defence analysts we extract requirements and a list of features that characterise data analysed at the end of the HTA chain. From these, we select an appropriate non-classified data source with analogous features, and model it as a set of facets. We develop ProveML, an XML-based extension of the Open Provenance Model, using these facets and augment it with the structures necessary to record the provenance of data, analytical process and interpretations. Through an iterative process, we develop and refine a prototype system for Human Terrain Visual Analytics (HTVA), and demonstrate means of storing, browsing and recalling analytical provenance and process through analytic bookmarks in ProveML. We show how these bookmarks can be combined to form narratives that link back to the live data. Throughout the process, we demonstrate that through structured workshops, rapid prototyping and structured communication with intelligence analysts we are able to establish requirements, and design schema, techniques and tools that meet the requirements of the intelligence community. We use the needs and reactions of defence analysts in defining and steering the methods to validate the framework.

INVISQUE: intuitive information exploration through interactive visualization

In this paper we present INVISQUE, a novel system designed for interactive information exploration. Instead of a conventional list-style arrangement, in INVISQUE information is represented by a two-dimensional spatial canvas, with each dimension representing user-defined semantics. Search results are presented as index cards, ordered in both dimensions. Intuitive interactions are used to perform tasks such as keyword searching, results browsing, categorizing, and linking to online resources such as Google and Twitter. The interaction-based query style also naturally lends the system to different types of user input such as multi-touch gestures. As a result, INVISQUE gives users a much more intuitive and smooth experience of exploring large information spaces.

SchemaLine: Timeline Visualization for Sensemaking

Timeline visualization is an important tool for sense making. It allows analysts to examine information in chronological order and to identify temporal patterns and relationships. However, many existing timeline visualization methods are not designed for the dynamic and iterative nature of the sense making process and the various analysis activities it involves. In this paper, we introduce a novel timeline visualization, Schema Line, to address these deficiencies. Schema Line is designed to group notes into analyst-determined schema, using a layout algorithm to produce compact but aesthetically pleasing timeline visualization, and includes fluid user interactions to support sense making activities. It enables interactive temporal schemata construction with seamless integration with visual data exploration and note taking. Our preliminary evaluation results show that the participants found the new method easy to learn and use, and its features effective for the sense making activities for which it was designed.

SensePath: Understanding the Sensemaking Process Through Analytic Provenance

Sensemaking is described as the process of comprehension, finding meaning and gaining insight from information, producing new knowledge and informing further action. Understanding the sensemaking process allows building effective visual analytics tools to make sense of large and complex datasets. Currently, it is often a manual and time-consuming undertaking to comprehend this: researchers collect observation data, transcribe screen capture videos and think-aloud recordings, identify recurring patterns, and eventually abstract the sensemaking process into a general model. In this paper, we propose a general approach to facilitate such a qualitative analysis process, and introduce a prototype, SensePath, to demonstrate the application of this approach with a focus on browser-based online sensemaking. The approach is based on a study of a number of qualitative research sessions including observations of users performing sensemaking tasks and post hoc analyses to uncover their sensemaking processes. Based on the study results and a follow-up participatory design session with HCI researchers, we decided to focus on the transcription and coding stages of thematic analysis. SensePath automatically captures users sensemaking actions, i.e., analytic provenance, and provides multi-linked views to support their further analysis. A number of other requirements elicited from the design session are also implemented in SensePath, such as easy integration with existing qualitative analysis workflow and non-intrusive for participants. The tool was used by an experienced HCI researcher to analyze two sensemaking sessions. The researcher found the tool intuitive and considerably reduced analysis time, allowing better understanding of the sensemaking process.

Ambulance Dispatch Complexity and Dispatcher Decision Strategies: Implications for Interface Design

The domain of ambulance command and control is complex due to dispatchers being required to make potentially hazardous decisions, often based on uncertain data, received from distributed sources in an environment that is extremely dynamic. These complexities were established after observing and interviewing fourteen ambulance command and control dispatchers located in two communications centres in New Zealand. In addition to the identification of complexities, the interviews resulted in the formulation of decision strategies utilised by the dispatchers when working in the communication centres. This research has implications for display design and provides avenues of research regarding how best to display the decision-making data required by ambulance dispatchers to overcome the complexities they encounter.

INVISQUE as a tool for intelligence analysis: the construction of explanatory narratives

This article reports an exploratory user study in which a group of civil servants with experience of, or involvement in, intelligence analysis used the tool INVISQUE to address a problem using the 2011 VAST data set. INVISQUE uses a visual metaphor that combines searching, clustering, and sorting of document surrogates with free-form manipulation on an infinite canvas. The study looks into exposing the behaviors and related cognitive strategies that users would employ to better understand how this and similar environments might better support intelligence type work. The results include the observation that the search and spatial features of the system supported participants in establishing, elaborating, and systematically evaluating explanatory narratives that accounted for the data. Also, visual persistence at the interface allowed them to keep track of searches and to re-find documents when their importance became apparent. The article concludes with reflections on our findings and propose a set of guidelines for developing systems that support sensemaking.

Looking but not seeing: implications for HCI

Motivation: In this paper we report on part of a study to understand how information layering techniques can be used to reduce change blindness. Change blindness, in general, is the failure of the human to detect changes to information that occur within his or her visual field. There are several variants of failures of visual awareness known as: Change Blindness, Inattentional Blindness, Repetition Blindness, and Comparison Blindness. Failure or delays in observing changes in complex, dynamic and safety critical systems by, say, operators can lead to disastrous outcomes. Hence, drawing together the different reasons reported in the literature can provide us with a first step towards developing design techniques for reducing change blindness in the hope that we can contribute to better and safer systems. Research Approach: We reviewed 21 key studies on the different forms of change blindness reported in the literature between 1976 and 2005. Using an Emergent Themes Analysis approach, we identified five effects that arise across the different forms of change blindness, and the likely effects that designers need to consider when designing visual interfaces to reduce change blindness. Findings/Design: These five effects are (i) the effect of rate of change, (ii) the effect of eccentricity, (iii) the effect of conspicuity, (iv) the effect of significance, and (v) the effect of tasks relevance. We also discuss the implications these effects have on information design. Research limitations/Implications: These effects were identified through a review of key literature. Not all effects occurred in every form of change blindness. The effects represent the variety of effects that a designer should be aware of that can cause change blindness to occur. Originality/Value: This paper provides a summary of the different forms of change blindness, and highlights their effects in a way relevant to design. Take away message: In designing displays to reduce the effect of the various forms of change blindness, it is necessary to factor these effects into the information design.