Dynamic query sliders vs. brushing histograms

Dynamic queries facilitate exploration of information through real-time visual display of both query formulation and results. Dynamic query sliders are linked to the main visualization to filter data. A common alternative to dynamic queries is to link several simple visualizations, such as histograms, to the main visualization with a brushing interaction. Selecting data in the histograms highlights that data in the main visualization. We compare these two approaches in an empirical experiment on DynaMaps, a geographic data visualization tool. Dynamic query sliders resulted in better performance for simple range tasks, while brushing histograms was better for complex comparison, tradeoff, and pattern tasks. Participants preferred brushing histograms for understanding relationships between attributes.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Qing Li, Xiaofeng Bao, Chen Song, Jinfei Zhang, Chris North
• Keywords: CHI 2003, Dynamic Query Sliders, Geographic Data Visualization, Human Computer Interaction, Main Visualization