Title
An Empirical Study on Using Visual Embellishments in Visualization
Abstract
In written and spoken communications, figures of speech (e.g., metaphors and synecdoche) are often used as an aid to help convey abstract or less tangible concepts. However, the benefits of using rhetorical illustrations or embellishments in visualization have so far been inconclusive. In this work, we report an empirical study to evaluate hypotheses that visual embellishments may aid memorization, visual search and concept comprehension. One major departure from related experiments in the literature is that we make use of a dualtask methodology in our experiment. This design offers an abstraction of typical situations where viewers do not have their full attention focused on visualization (e.g., in meetings and lectures). The secondary task introduces “divided attention”, and makes the effects of visual embellishments more observable. In addition, it also serves as additional masking in memory-based trials. The results of this study show that visual embellishments can help participants better remember the information depicted in visualization. On the other hand, visual embellishments can have a negative impact on the speed of visual search. The results show a complex pattern as to the benefits of visual embellishments in helping participants grasp key concepts from visualization.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1109/TVCG.2012.197
IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph.
Keywords
Field
DocType
memory,data visualization,memorization,visual search,memory management,data visualisation,speech,cognition,evaluation,information,visualization,working memory,capacity,long term memory
Computer vision,Visual search,Data visualization,Visualization,Computer science,Visual analytics,Rhetorical question,Artificial intelligence,Comprehension,Memorization,Empirical research
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
18
12
1077-2626
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
18
0.87
13
Authors
7
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Rita Borgo126618.44
Alfie Abdul-rahman2394.69
Farhan Mohamed3212.50
Philip W. Grant41016.47
Irene Reppa5232.39
Luciano Floridi660276.83
Min Chen7129382.69