An evaluation of space-filling information visualizations for depicting hierarchical structures

✍ Scribed by JOHN STASKO; RICHARD CATRAMBONE; MARK GUZDIAL; KEVIN MCDONALD

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 956 KB
• Volume: 53
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1071-5819
• DOI: 10.1006/ijhc.2000.0420

✦ Synopsis

A variety of information visualization tools have been developed recently, but relatively little e!ort has been made to evaluate the e!ectiveness and utility of the tools. This article describes results from two empirical studies of two visualization tools for depicting hierarchies, in particular, computer "le and directory structures. The two tools examined implement space-"lling methodologies, one rectangular, the Treemap method, and one circular, the Sunburst method. Participants performed typical "le/directory search and analysis tasks using the two tools. In general, performance trends favored the Sunburst tool with respect to correct task performance, particularly on initial use. Performance with Treemap tended to improve over time and use, suggesting a greater learning cost that was partially recouped over time. Each tool a!orded somewhat di!erent search strategies, which also appeared to in#uence performance. Finally, participants strongly preferred the Sunburst tool, citing better ability to convey structure and hierarchy.