Task-Dependent Efficiency: An Eye-Tracking Comparison of 2D and 3D Data Visualizations

Abstract

The present study investigates the comparative reading efficiency of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) data visualizations in the conveyance of high-dimensional data information. Two experiments were conducted using bar graphs (Experiment 1) and scatterplots (Experiment 2) to examine the effect of context demands through data localization, comparison, and prediction tasks. The analyses of behavioral and eye-tracking measurements suggested that 3D data visualizations were less effective for localization tasks compared to their 2D counterparts, while performance in tasks of comparison and prediction demonstrated comparable efficiency. Eye movement patterns demonstrated that 2D visualizations facilitated reliance on familiar cognitive schemas, whereas 3D formats, particularly scatterplots, required mixed and often less efficient viewing strategies. These findings underscore the cognitive demands posed by 3D visual displays and emphasize the importance of optimizing visual formats to enhance user comprehension and information transmission.