Dugald Ralph Hutchings

Display space usage and window management operation comparisons between single monitor and multiple monitor users

The continuing trend toward greater processing power, larger storage, and in particular increased display surface by using multiple monitor supports increased multi-tasking by the computer user. The concomitant increase in desktop complexity has the potential to push the overhead of window management to frustrating and counterproductive new levels. It is difficult to adequately design for multiple monitor systems without understanding how multiple monitor users differ from, or are similar to, single monitor users. Therefore, we deployed a tool to a group of single monitor and multiple monitor users to log window management activity. Analysis of the data collected from this tool revealed that usage of interaction components may change with an increase in number of monitors, and window visibility can be a useful measure of user display space management activity, especially for multiple monitor users. The results from this analysis begin to fill a gap in research about real-world window management practices.

mudibo: multiple dialog boxes for multiple monitors

A general problem identified in recent research on multiple monitor systems is the placement of small windows such as dialog boxes and toolbars. These small windows could be placed on top of the application window or on a monitor next to the application window; different situations call for different placements. We present mudibo, a component of the window manager that alleviates this problem by initially placing a window in multiple locations simultaneously and subsequently allowing the user to easily interact with the window in a desired location. Additional important contributions of mudibo are that as a general technique it can be applied to a number of situations and windows beyond simple dialog boxes, exploits the additional screen space that multiple monitors provide to solve a specific problem with dialog box interaction, and is among the first research prototype UIs that explicitly account for multiple-monitor users.

QuickSpace: new operations for the desktop metaphor

The explosion of information available to everyday users has resulted in numerous applications that allow users to access this information. Fundamental desktop operations fail to assist the user efficiently display all of the information available in these applications. We propose a number of new window and space management techniques that attempt to solve this problem.

Consistency, multiple monitors, and multiple windows

We present an evaluation of mudibo, a prototype system for determining the position of dialog boxes in a multiple-monitor system. The analysis shows that, when compared to a standard approach, mudibo offered a 24% decrease in time needed to begin interaction in a dialog box. Analysis of participant behavior in the evaluation provides insight into the way users perceive and act in multiple-monitor environments. Specifically, the notion of consistency changes for multiple-monitor systems and the prospect of adaptive algorithms becomes further complicated and intricate, especially for window management.

VisMap: Exploratory Visualization Support for Introductory Data Science and Visualization

We present VisMap, a Web-based software tool that supports student exploration of possible data visualizations during a typical process of data science practice. Specifically, we detail visualization approaches within three major kinds of data analysis (part-to-whole and rank, correlation, and geospatial) and discuss how VisMap allows students to visually explore visualization options that correspond to the kind of analysis. The discussion is rooted in our experiences developing an introductory undergraduate course in data science and in our classroom observations of the limitations of existing software tools. These limitations include inefficiency of visualization comparison, difficulty in manipulating data to achieve visualization goals, and current challenges novices face when using professional tools simultaneous with learning about visualization. We finally offer a variety of future paths to further evaluate and refine VisMap.

Scrumage: A Method for Incorporating Multiple, Simultaneous Pedagogical Styles in the Classroom

Pedagogical approaches abound in computer science. Common approaches include flipped classrooms, active learning, gamification, and the traditional lecture-based approach. There are also a wide variety of computer science learning materials including videos, interactive tutorials, and textbooks (whether presented online or on paper). Instructor choices of approach and materials present a series of trade-offs and may favor some groups of students over others. We propose a method, Scrumage, (SCRUM for AGile Education) in an attempt to overcome the necessity of making trade-offs. We allow each student in a course to select among several pedagogical approaches and sets of materials to fit each individual students learning needs and desires. Scrumage adapts concepts from the Scrum project management technique. In Scrum, project teams are developing a product for a client. In Scrumage, student teams are developing knowledge with support from the instructor. We define and motivate Scrumage and discuss the implementation and outcomes of the technique in a class at our undergraduate institution.

Controlling information display in larger pixel spaces: a study of window snipping by multiple-monitor users

We evaluate snip, a region-based window operation, in the context of multiple-monitor usage. Snip allows users to restrict the view of any window to a specified subregion. For example snip is suitable for displaying appropriate reference information, a task of increased importance on multiple-monitor systems. Our field study results indicate that everyday multiple-monitor users employed snip to show more windows simultaneously than without snip and favored a specific monitor on which to show snipped windows. In short, the field study demonstrated an expected space-efficiency gain by using snip in multiple-monitor environments.