an analysis of different visualization techniques in social network context through users...

An Analysis of Different Visualization Techniques in Social Network Context

Through Users Impressions

Eduardo GhidiniElisa Costa Diel

Greice De Carli RomanJoão Pedro Guterres

FACIN/PUCRS

PPGCC – PUCRS Qualidade de Sistemas Iterativos

Purpose

● Our aim is to analyse the usability of the visualization techniques provided by the tool Spot, when compared with the visualization forms offered by Twitter


Related Work

● FluxFlow● DeepTwitter● OpinionFlow● Vizter

In addition to works related to evaluation methods for Visualization Techniques.


Spot Tool

● Is an interactive real-time Twitter Visualization that uses a particle metaphor to represent tweets. This particles metaphor are called “Spots”.


Spot Tool – Option 1


Research Methodology

● RQ: What are the strengths and difficulties in using different ways to display tweets analyzed to support the acquisition of information by the user?

● we conducted a study involving usability evaluation [2] of the Spot tool with 7 users who already use Twitter daily.

● In the usability evaluation, interviews and observations were applied in person, following a pre-established script:(1) Application of the pre-test interview; (2) Search tags on Twitter; (3) Search tags in Spot; (4) Observations of the step 2 and 3; (4) Fill the post-test interview.


Findings

● We collected data from 7 different Twitter users - 5 men and 2 women. Their age vary between 21-35 years old.

● The average time spent on Twitter by these users ranges from less than an hour to up to three hours (daily).

● When asked about for what purpose they use Twitter, the most general answer was to stay informed


Findings

● 6 out of the 7 users seem to have enjoyed it.

● When asked if 2 users said that tool was clear and of easy understanding, 2 said it was not that easy but also not that hard and 3 user said it was difficult to understand.

● About interaction of the system, 2 mentioned it was very easy, 2 said it was easy, 2 said not that easy but also not that hard and 1said it is hard to interact.


Findings

● All members - unanimously - indicated that the one they liked the most was number 4. And only one user mentioned 2º visualization technique as one of their favorites.

● The other techniques in general have been criticized, especially by his difficulty in understanding.

● It was mentioned in comments: “The system is not self-explanatory, it should give autonomy to the user so we can understand how to use, how to group, rank, etc.”


Findings

● In Comparing Neoformix Spot tool with Twitter’s hashtag search, 3 users preferred the Spot and 4 preferred Twitter.

● As a Spot advantages mentioned that it shows more information where you can more easily understand facts.

● Twitter advantages mentioned is your extremely organization.


Final Considerations

● the different visualization techniques needed adaptations to meet users’ needs.

● With all the data gathered, we were able to see that all users did not understand all the 6 introduced visualization techniques.

● users that had already used other tools seem to not have liked the tool that much

● The missing guidance on the menus also seemed to have bothered all users.

● All users said that they would be willing to use this tool more frequently if it went through all the adaptations

An Analysis of Different Visualization Techniques in Social Network Context

Through Users Impressions


an analysis of different visualization techniques in social network context through users...

Technology