A Spatial Model for Nested Multiscale Interfaces
Chris Olston
Abstract
Significant recent interest has been devoted to the multiscale
interface as a paradigm for user-driven exploration of large or
complex information worlds. Multiscale interfaces sometimes permit
nesting of worlds, a notion that underpins a diverse variety of
navigation aides and multiple-view tools such as visual hyperlinks,
bookmarks, filters, magnifying glasses, overview and detail views, and
coordinated views, all of which can be used to enhance the
effectiveness of information exploration. These constructs often
behave in accordance with underlying spatial relationships among
nested views. Unfortunately, researchers and designers currently lack
tools to help them describe and reason formally about spatial
relationships tying together nested virtual worlds. The absence of
appropriate formalisms is problematic because multiple spatial models
are available and, even under a consistent model different nested
constructs can exhibit different behaviors, many of which have complex
and asymmetric properties. In this paper we describe a spatial model
for nested multiscale interfaces that we constructed based on
experience with a prototype data visualization system. We show how
behaviors of nested components can be described succinctly in our
model and provide a comprehensive taxonomy of 32 distinct behaviors.
Finally, we make use of our spatial model to design techniques to help
maintain user orientation during navigation between nested worlds by
smoothly animating transitions between outer and inner views.
Technical Report: [PS], [PDF]
Online Demonstration Program: [Java]