Scribble query: fluid touch brushing for multivariate data visualization

Abstract

The wide availability of touch-enabled devices is a unique opportunity for visualization research to invent novel techniques to fluently explore, analyse, and understand complex and large-scale data. In this paper, we introduce Scribble Query, a novel interaction technique for fluid freehand scribbling (casual drawing) on touch-enabled devices to support interactive querying in data visualizations. Inspired by the low-entry yet rich interaction of touch drawing applications, a Scribble Query can be created with a single touch stroke yet have the expressiveness of multiple brushes (a conventionally used interaction technique). We have applied the Scribble Query interaction technique in a multivariate visualization tool, deployed the tool with domain experts from five different domains, and conducted deployment studies with these domain experts on their utilization of multivariate visualization with Scribble Query. The studies suggest that Scribble Query has a low entry barrier facilitating easy adoption, casual and infrequent usage, and in one case, enabled live dissemination of findings by the domain expert to managers in the organization.