TY - GEN
T1 - Between aesthetics and utility
T2 - 9th Annual IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, InfoVis 2003
AU - Skog, Tobias
AU - Ljungblad, Sara
AU - Erik Holmquist, Lars
PY - 2003/10/21
Y1 - 2003/10/21
N2 - Unlike traditional information visualization, ambient information visualizations reside in the environment of the user rather than on the screen of a desktop computer. Currently, most dynamic information that is displayed in public places consists of text and numbers. We argue that information visualization can be employed to make such dynamic data more useful and appealing. However, visualizations intended for non-desktop spaces will have to both provide valuable information and present an attractive addition to the environment - they must strike a balance between aesthetical appeal and usefulness. To explore this, we designed a real-time visualization of bus departure times and deployed it in a public space, with about 300 potential users. To make the presentation more visually appealing, we took inspiration from a modern abstract artist. The visualization was designed in two passes. First, we did a preliminary version that was presented to and discussed with prospective users. Based on their input, we did a final design. We discuss the lessons learned in designing this and previous ambient information visualizations, including how visual art can be used as a design constraint, and how the choice of information and the placement of the display affect the visualization.
AB - Unlike traditional information visualization, ambient information visualizations reside in the environment of the user rather than on the screen of a desktop computer. Currently, most dynamic information that is displayed in public places consists of text and numbers. We argue that information visualization can be employed to make such dynamic data more useful and appealing. However, visualizations intended for non-desktop spaces will have to both provide valuable information and present an attractive addition to the environment - they must strike a balance between aesthetical appeal and usefulness. To explore this, we designed a real-time visualization of bus departure times and deployed it in a public space, with about 300 potential users. To make the presentation more visually appealing, we took inspiration from a modern abstract artist. The visualization was designed in two passes. First, we did a preliminary version that was presented to and discussed with prospective users. Based on their input, we did a final design. We discuss the lessons learned in designing this and previous ambient information visualizations, including how visual art can be used as a design constraint, and how the choice of information and the placement of the display affect the visualization.
KW - Ambient displays
KW - Ambient information visualization
KW - Calm technology
KW - Informative art
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649626107&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/INFVIS.2003.1249031
DO - 10.1109/INFVIS.2003.1249031
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:78649626107
SN - 9780780381544
T3 - Proceedings - IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization, INFO VIS
SP - 233
EP - 240
BT - IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization 2003, InfoVis 2003
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
CY - Piscataway, NJ
Y2 - 19 October 2003 through 21 October 2003
ER -