From: Robert Jacobson Subject: Thread from comp.human-factors on database visualization Date: Fri, 17 Jan 92 11:06:25 -0800 From: richardt@ifi.uio.no (Richard Aronce Torres) Date: 8 Jan 92 17:23:51 GMT Organization: Dept. of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway I'm doing research on how we can give users(primarily database users) new ways to see information, new ways to see relationships and connections, and new ways to organize and animate existing(alphanumeric) data. This is important because many users get so much data such that it becomes difficult for them to assimilate data to useful inforamation. Many managers, for example, want maximum information in the minimum amount of time. Using charts (line, bar, pie) is one way, but are there other means to present information? What are their advantages and disadvantages? For example, in network and relational databases application , there might be several relations(set type in network databases) and attributes; and finally data(tuples) are just listed down. If one should produce visual information for the tuples, it may be necessary use several graph dimensions, depending on the number of relation . For example, a two-column table (representing one relationship) needs a 2D-chart, a three-column table (representing three relationships) needs a 3-D chart, and so on. The also complexity increases when there are multiple keys in a table and handling null values. The issues don't stop here, because visual language also encompasses layout, imagery, animation, sequencing, color, texture, and symbolism. Furthermore, how do we manipulate them? In this group(comp.human-factors), we usually talk more about sizing, moving and scrolling windows. But we should also concentrate on what we should put inside them. I hope this will interest you. Please send me your comments and any refereces(books, research results, etc.). If there is a considerable interest, maybe we can run a discussion in this group. If not, are there other groups in the net that might be interested in this topic? Richard richardt@tellus.unik.no =================================== From: gnpaulle@maytag.uwaterloo.ca (Glenn Paulley) Organization: University of Waterloo Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1992 02:39:19 GMT I've been studying SQL database interfaces from the point of view of categorizing errors, and responding to them more appropriately (especially in the case of queries which return NULL). However, several papers I've seen discuss graphical (or other) styles of interfaces. They are: Boehm-Davis, Deborah Effects of Different Database Formats on Information Retrieval Human Factors 31(5), 1989, pp. 579-592 J. Steve Davis Experimental Investigation of the utility of data structure and E-R diagrams in database query Int. Journal of Man-Machine Studies (1990) volume 32, pp. 449-459 Jih et. al. The Effect of relational and entity-relationship data models on query performance of end users Int. Journal of Man-Machine Studies (1989) volume 31, pp. 257-267. Hope this helps. -- G. N. (Glenn) Paulley, Graduate Student -- CS Dept., University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 -- USENET: gnpaulle@maytag.UWaterloo.CA Office: Davis Centre 3142 -- Phone: (519) 885-1211 x3490 ======================================== From: wex@dali.pws.bull.com (Member, Redheads Anonymous) Date: 9 Jan 1992 Organization: Bull Worldwide Information Systems Inc. To toot my own horn for a minute here, this is a problem I've been thinking about for a few years. Lately my thought have turned to creating a general framework powerful enough to encompass any kind of display we'd like to make. The first step in this theory is published in CYBERSPACE, Benedikt, M. (ed.) as Wexelblat, Alan, "Giving Meaning to Place: Semantic Spaces." [No, I won't mail you a copy of my chapter. I don't make a cent when you buy the book, but MIT Press is selling it for a ridiculously cheap price and it will be good for publishing more such books when they sell this one out.] --Alan Wexelblat phone: (508)294-6120 Bull Worldwide Information Systems internet: wex@pws.bull.com Billerica, MA wexelblat.chi@xerox.com You've just gotten everything you ever wanted in life. What do you do now?