Storming Media: Pentagon Reports and DocumentsPentagon Reports: Fast. Definitive. Complete.     
New Account »
Forgot Password?
Advanced Search »
ComputersComputer Programming and Software

A Comparison of Zoomable User Interfaces and Folders for Grouping Visual Objects

Authors: Lance Good; Mark J Stefik; Benjamin B Bederson; PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER CA
Abstract:
Making sense of information on computers is notoriously difficult because of limited size displays. Two interface techniques used to cope with these limitations are zooming and overview+detail. To evaluate these techniques, we ran a user study comparing a Zoomable User Interface (ZUI) and a folder-based overview+detail interface. The task used in the study required subjects to organize shapes into groups based on common visual properties. The study results showed 30% faster completion times with the ZUI than with folders. The ZUI's advantage most likely arose from its support for fast visual comparisons. Ultimately, we expect that these results can be extended to a range of problem solving tasks involving a variety of visual objects.

Limitations: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Pages: 21
Report Date: 01-Nov-2004
Contract Number: MDA904-03-C-0404 MDA90403C0404
Report Number: A398384
Keywords relating to this report:
*COMPARISON
*MAN COMPUTER INTERFACE
DISPLAY SYSTEMS
SORTING
USER NEEDS
Email This Abstract