Design of 3D visualization of search results: evolution and evaluation

We discuss the evolution of the NIST Information Retrieval Visualization Engine. This prototype employs modern interactive visualization techniques to provide easier access to a set of documents resulting from a query to a search engine. The motivation and evaluation of several design features, such as keywork to concept mapping, explicit clustering, the use of 3D vs. 2D, and the relationship of visualization to logical structure are described. In particular, the result of an extensive usability experiment show how visualization may lead to either increased or decreased cognitive load.

[1]  Corporate,et al.  PEXlib reference manual , 1992 .

[2]  Robert B. Allen,et al.  An interface for navigating clustered document sets returned by queries , 1993, COCS '93.

[3]  C D Wickens,et al.  Implications of Graphics Enhancements for the Visualization of Scientific Data: Dimensional Integrality, Stereopsis, Motion, and Mesh , 1994, Human factors.

[4]  Matthew Chalmers,et al.  Design Perspectives in Visualising Complex Information , 1997, VDB.

[5]  Edward A. Fox,et al.  Visualizing search results: some alternatives to query-document similarity , 1996, SIGIR '96.

[6]  Marti A. Hearst,et al.  Reexamining the cluster hypothesis: scatter/gather on retrieval results , 1996, SIGIR '96.

[7]  Stuart K. Card,et al.  Visualizing retrieved information: a survey , 1996, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications.

[8]  Aravindan Veerasamy,et al.  Effectiveness of a graphical display of retrieval results , 1997, SIGIR '97.

[9]  Judith R. Brown,et al.  Euro-American Workshop on visualization of information and data , 1997, COMG.

[10]  Jock D. Mackinlay,et al.  The structure of the information visualization design space , 1997, Proceedings of VIZ '97: Visualization Conference, Information Visualization Symposium and Parallel Rendering Symposium.

[11]  Steven K. Feiner,et al.  Visual task characterization for automated visual discourse synthesis , 1998, CHI.

[12]  James Allan,et al.  Aspect windows, 3-D visualizations, and indirect comparisons of information retrieval systems , 1998, SIGIR '98.

[13]  Marc M. Sebrechts,et al.  Visualization of search results: a comparative evaluation of text, 2D, and 3D interfaces , 1999, SIGIR '99.

[14]  Ben Shneiderman,et al.  Readings in information visualization - using vision to think , 1999 .

[15]  Thomas M. Mann,et al.  Visualization of WWW-search results , 1999, Proceedings. Tenth International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications. DEXA 99.