Abstract
Information Visualization tools have simplified visualization development. Some tools help simple users construct standard visualizations; others help programmers develop custom visualizations. This thesis contributes to the field of Information Visualization and End-User Development. The first contribution of
the thesis is a taxonomy for Information Visualization development tools. Existing
taxonomies from the Information Visualization field are helpful, but none of them can properly categorize visualization tools from a user development perspective. The categorization of 20 Information Visualization tools proves the
applicability of this taxonomy, and the result showed that there are no Dragand-
Drop tools that allow end-user developers as well as programmers to create
custom visualizations.
The second contribution is a new visualization development approach, the Drag-Drop-Set-View-Interact approach, supported by the visualization tool called uVis. In order to construct custom visualizations with uVis, end-user developers and programmers drag and drop controls, set formulas, view immediate results, and interact as end-users without switching workspace. This approach was possible by extending the uVis formula language with a development environment - the uVis Studio. The results of this thesis provide good indications that with a modest amount of training, end-user developers can construct custom visualizations with the Drag-Drop-Set-View-Interact approach. The results also indicate that programmers can construct custom visualizations faster with Drag-Drop- Set-View-Interact and additional proof is provided through the development of two custom visualizations by an experienced user of uVis.
As existing work in Information Visualization has overlooked end-user developers, and End-User Development has not explored visualization development, this thesis provides a starting point for End-User Development of Information Visualization. The results can be used by the End-User Development and the Information Visualization community to identify future avenues of research.
the thesis is a taxonomy for Information Visualization development tools. Existing
taxonomies from the Information Visualization field are helpful, but none of them can properly categorize visualization tools from a user development perspective. The categorization of 20 Information Visualization tools proves the
applicability of this taxonomy, and the result showed that there are no Dragand-
Drop tools that allow end-user developers as well as programmers to create
custom visualizations.
The second contribution is a new visualization development approach, the Drag-Drop-Set-View-Interact approach, supported by the visualization tool called uVis. In order to construct custom visualizations with uVis, end-user developers and programmers drag and drop controls, set formulas, view immediate results, and interact as end-users without switching workspace. This approach was possible by extending the uVis formula language with a development environment - the uVis Studio. The results of this thesis provide good indications that with a modest amount of training, end-user developers can construct custom visualizations with the Drag-Drop-Set-View-Interact approach. The results also indicate that programmers can construct custom visualizations faster with Drag-Drop- Set-View-Interact and additional proof is provided through the development of two custom visualizations by an experienced user of uVis.
As existing work in Information Visualization has overlooked end-user developers, and End-User Development has not explored visualization development, this thesis provides a starting point for End-User Development of Information Visualization. The results can be used by the End-User Development and the Information Visualization community to identify future avenues of research.
Original language | English |
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Publisher | IT-Universitetet i København |
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Number of pages | 208 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-87-7949-287-5 |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Series | ITU-DS |
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Number | 92 |
ISSN | 1602-3536 |