Turning Pictures into Numbers: Extracting and Generating Information From Complex Visualizations

We present a study of complex visualization usage by expert meteorological forecasters. We performed a protocol analysis and examined the types of visualizations they examined. We present evidence for how experts are able to make use of complex visualizations. Our findings suggest that users of comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Trafton, J G, Kirschenbaum, Susan S, Tsui, Ted L, Miyamoto, Robert T, Ballas, James A, Raymond, Paula D
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
COGNITION
COMPLEX VISUALIZATIONS
COMPREHENSION
Computer Programming and Software
EXTRACTION
GRAPHICS
HEURISTIC METHODS
Information Science
INFORMATION THEORY
MENTAL MODELS
Meteorology
PICTURES
Psychology
REASONING
REPRINTS
WEATHER FORECASTERS
WEATHER FORECASTING
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Summary:We present a study of complex visualization usage by expert meteorological forecasters. We performed a protocol analysis and examined the types of visualizations they examined. We present evidence for how experts are able to make use of complex visualizations. Our findings suggest that users of complex visualizations create qualitative mental models from which they can then generate quantitative information. In order to build their qualitative mental models, forecasters integrated information across multiple visualizations and extracted primarily qualitative information from visualizations in a goal-directed manner. We discuss both theoretical and practical implications of this study. Pub. in International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, v53 p827-852, 2000.