VisGenome and Ensembl: Usability of Integrated Genome Maps

It is not always clear how best to represent integrated data sets, and which application and database features allow a scientist to take best advantage of data coming from various information sources. To improve the use of integrated data visualisation in candidate gene finding, we carried out a user study comparing an existing general-purpose genetics visualisation and query system, Ensembl, to our new application, VisGenome. We report on experiments verifying the correctness of visual querying in VisGenome, and take advantage of software assessment techniques which are still uncommon in bioinformatics, including asking the users to perform a set of tasks, fill in a questionnaire and participate in an interview. As VisGenome offers smooth zooming and panning driven by mouse actions and a small number of search and view adjustment menus, and Ensembl offers a large amount of data in query interfaces and clickable images, we hypothesised that a simplified interface supported by smooth zo...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: DILS
• Authors: Joanna Jakubowska, Ela Hunt, John McClure, Matthew Chalmers, Martin McBride, Anna F. Dominiczak
• Keywords: Life Sciences, Data Sets, DILS 2008, Integrated Data, User Study