1. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 SIMS 247 Lecture 6 Linked Interaction as Query Specification February 5, 1998

2. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Today Discuss Assignment 1Discuss Assignment 1 Introduce Assignment 2Introduce Assignment 2 Iterative Visualization as Query SpecificationIterative Visualization as Query Specification

3. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Dynamic Queries Instead of a formal database languageInstead of a formal database language Explore a dataset interactivelyExplore a dataset interactively Use graphical devices to interactively update a visualizationUse graphical devices to interactively update a visualization –Examples Ahlberg & Shneiderman 93 Filmfinder, etc. Roth et al. 96 VISAGE Woodruff et al. DataSplash

4. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Filtering / Restricting Select a subset of data to be filtered out (or retained)Select a subset of data to be filtered out (or retained) How does this differ from highlighting?How does this differ from highlighting? –Highlighting shows relationships between one subset of points and the full set –Filtering removes a subset of points from consideration

5. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Interaction as Query Specification Interactive manipulation of a visualization can be seen as a kind of query specification –Filters as ANDs e.g., Show only records with employees who make more than $30k. Now show the cities they live in. Many cities omitted. –Alternative views as ORs

6. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Tight Coupling Tight coupling: like brushing and linking, with an emphasis on use of filtersTight coupling: like brushing and linking, with an emphasis on use of filters Link together two or more query components to preserve display invariantsLink together two or more query components to preserve display invariants –Example from standard GUI: Grey out inapplicable menu choices Helps prevent user from illegal actions For information explorationFor information exploration –Output of one query -> input to another

7. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Tightly-Coupled Visualization for Query Refinement Progressive refinementProgressive refinement –users can see if they are going to get too many results –adjust query if so Easier explorationEasier exploration –users quickly undo a constraint imposed by a filter and try a different path

8. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 VISAGE (Roth et al. 96) Tightly coupled database queriesTightly coupled database queries –drag & drop data subsets –enforce constraints automatically Multiple, complementary ways to present and view informationMultiple, complementary ways to present and view information Data-centric approachData-centric approach –indicate operations on the data itself –as opposed to selecting from disassociated menus no need to gray out inappropriate menu choices –as opposed to “file-centric” or “document-centric”

9. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Dimensions for interaction (Roth et al. 96) Set selectionSet selection which objects to work on how to indicate attributes and ranges Granularity/composition of actionsGranularity/composition of actions how to indicate what operation to perform how to combine several operations granularity of operations –automatic breadmaker vs. bowls, rolling pin, etc. Continuity of actionContinuity of action adjusting light dimmer vs. picking tv channel Consistency with domainConsistency with domain how do people usually interact with this kind of information?

10. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Features of VISAGE (Roth et al. 96) Works with an underlying databaseWorks with an underlying database User can manipulate individual data records or metadata for tablesUser can manipulate individual data records or metadata for tables Context-sensitive menus allow for access to finer-granularity information (“drill down”).Context-sensitive menus allow for access to finer-granularity information (“drill down”).

11. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 VISAGE display (Roth et al. 96)

12. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 VISAGE display (Roth et al. 96)

13. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 VISAGE display (Roth et al. 96)

14. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 VISAGE features Data-centric approachData-centric approach –make choices on the data –as opposed to selecting from disassociated menus –as opposed to “file-centric” or “document-centric” other systems have had this focusother systems have had this focus –e.g., smalltalk object programming system

15. Marti Hearst SIMS 247 Other VISAGE features Menu of applicable attributes is attached to the frame of the bar chartMenu of applicable attributes is attached to the frame of the bar chart Icons used are a convention for the domainIcons used are a convention for the domain Copying a visual representation always refers to the underlying data pointCopying a visual representation always refers to the underlying data point –as opposed to drawing programs –the visual appearance of the paste operation is based on the kind of graph the data is dropped into