Grids and networks: two exploratory approaches for visualising bibliometric data on very large displays

Abstract

Current personal single-user devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, struggle to provide the contextual awareness and coordination capabilities required for the effective collaborative analysis of large datasets. Instead, large interactive displays offer unique opportunities for co-located collaboration in meeting room environments. However, supporting collaborative interaction across multiple large displays presents distinctive challenges for interaction designers. This paper explores and compares novel interaction techniques and visualisations for large displays, with a focus on two distinct approaches for collaborative browsing and filtering of multivariate datasets: (i) shared zoomable grid view, and (ii) multiple individual network views. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed interfaces for multi-user exploratory analysis, we applied the designs to a specific use case, namely the problem of displaying research metadata from bibliographic databases to extract and collate narratives and overarching themes for research grant proposals. Following an agile design methodology, we created two prototypes incorporating our designs. We weigh the benefits and limitations of each approach by comparing them along two key dimensions: (i) methods of interaction, and (ii) visual representation. Subsequently, we compare the two design approaches and discuss the circumstances and situations that would be beneficial for use. This research and its implications are intended to inform future research exploring the design of collaborative interfaces for large-scale interaction environments.