User Interface Design Patterns: Part 1 Kirsten McCane

Searches Many new methods and applications for searching based upon dynamic querying have been developed Response to large information spaces with fast access Emphasis on: –Immediate and continuous display of results –Rapid Filtering –Refinement of search results –Use of visual information within results

Visual Information Search Systems VISS support the task „exploration of large information spaces“. Key is the enormous capacity for human visual information processing. Presenting information visually and allowing dynamic user control through direct manipulation UI Displays of textual and numeric information can be extended to incorporate spatial displays in which related information is clustered in 2-dimensional or higher spaces.

VISS User interface design principles for VISS –to reduce the users anxiety about the flood of information, –find needles in haystacks, –support exploratory browsing to develop intuition, –find patterns and exceptions,

Continuous Queries Search criteria and results are: –Synchronized –Simultaneously visible Continuous Filter Non-matching items eliminated Substrings Highlighted Best Matches shown first Continuous Highlight Non-matching items not eliminated Only used over continuous filter when comparison is needed

DC HomeFinder Example The DC Homefinder dynamic query system enables users to adjust the sliders for location, cost, number of bedrooms, home type and features The results are shown as points of light which can be selected to generate a detailed description at the bottom of the screen. ]

Comparison Study done to compare query methods Dynamic Queries showed significant speed advantage for 3 most difficult tasks

Data Views Information visualizations have the potential for greater usability and efficiency Three examples examined: –Overview beside detail –Expand in context –Fisheye view

Overview in Detail Overview of entire information space with a detailed view of the contents Studies show that its overview receives higher satisfaction over other interfaces –Liked the overview of the structure of the information, –liked to use the overview for navigation –Found the overview pleasant. May improve interaction qualitatively ]

Expand in Context Allow users to interact directly with information space to show associated details Use Visual cues to indicate supporting details for information Show benefits over former techniques such as hypertext that take you away from supporting information Margin callout Interline compression Overlay

Fish Eye Fish Eye Interface: only important part are always readable Importance determined by algorithm Aim is to reduce the time taken to navigate through a document first focusing on the important sections of the document then expanding sections and reading the details Users express dissatisfaction in many cases due to lack of trust of algorithm determining importance TraditionalFish Eye

Popout Prism

Storage Several different patterns for returning to previous information Revolves around what is stored in reference to the data Rule Storage Data Storage Place Holder Temporary Storage

Rule Storage Involves the storage of search criteria and not data Best used when user needs to get reoccurring up to date information

Data Storage Used when only a fixed set of data is needed as opposed to recently updated data Results are saved but not the search criteria Example: Save a set of articles returned by a search.

Placeholder & Temporary Storage Save a shortcut to data Permanent as long as target does not change Is a reduced instance of Rule Storage Visible clipboard Place to keep items during editing PlaceHolder Temporary Storage

Questions?