Materializing the query with facet-streams: a hybrid surface for collaborative search on tabletops

We introduce “Facet-Streams”, a hybrid interactive surface for co-located collaborative product search on a tabletop. Facet-Streams combines techniques of information visualization with tangible and multi-touch interaction to materialize collaborative search on a tabletop. It harnesses the expressive power of facets and Boolean logic without exposing users to complex formal notations. Two user studies reveal how Facet-Streams unifies visual and tangible expressivity with simplicity in interaction, supports different strategies and collaboration styles, and turns product search into a fun and social experience. Author Keywords Collaborative Search, Tabletop, Tangible User Interfaces. ACM Classification Keywords H5.3. Information interfaces and presentation (e.g., HCI): Group and Organization Interfaces. General Terms Design, Human Factors, Experimentation.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Hans-Christian Jetter, Jens Gerken, Michael Zöllner, Harald Reiterer, Natasa Milic-Frayling
• Keywords: CHI 2011, Collaborative Search, Formal Notations, Human Computer Interaction, Tangible User Interfaces