Collaborative behavior, performance and engagement with visual analytics tasks using mobile devices

Abstract

Interactive visualizations are external tools that can support users’ exploratory activities. Collaboration can bring benefits to the exploration of visual representations or visualizations. This research investigates the use of co-located collaborative visualizations in mobile devices, how users working with two different modes of interaction and view (Shared or Non-Shared) and how being placed at various position arrangements (Corner-to-Corner, Face-to-Face, and Side-by-Side) affect their knowledge acquisition, engagement level, and learning efficiency. A user study is conducted with 60 participants divided into 6 groups (2 modes $$\times$$ × 3 positions) using a tool that we developed to support the exploration of 3D visual structures in a collaborative manner. Our results show that the shared control and view version in the Side-by-Side position is the most favorable and can improve task efficiency. In this paper, we present the results and a set of recommendations that are derived from them.

On the Use of Large Interactive Displays to Support Collaborative Engagement and Visual Exploratory Tasks

“…However, based on our results in this study, we found that B-B was the best one. This result also conflicts with the findings in some prior works (e.g., [3,22]). Their results showed that S-S was the best position for supporting better task performance.…”

“…Users could communicate more efficiently and share their ideas with lower effort (or movement) because of their close proximity to each other, which would enhance task performance. Earlier research has shown that users placed side-by-side achieved the best task performance when collaborating with mobile devices [22]. Therefore, we expected that the same result could apply to large displays.…”

“…Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) extends traditional cooperative learning through a technology-enhanced collaborative learning environment, platform, or medium [18][19][20]. Research in CSCL include various types of technologies such as mobile tablets [21,22], large tabletop or wall displays [23], and more recently virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) [24,25].…”

Effect of Collaboration Mode and Position Arrangement on Immersive Analytics Tasks in Virtual Reality: A Pilot Study

“…These results seem to align with findings in [15], where it was claimed that S-S affords the greatest collaboration experience. Another study also stated that S-S is the most favorable and can improve task efficiency [53]. However, it is inconsistent with what Marquardt et al [15] have suggested, in that C-C promotes further communication.…”

“…In the physical world, spatial relationships and the positioning of people in close proximity can significantly influence their performance and behavior during collaboration [15]. That is, different relative physical orientations afford different types of collaborative styles and user experiences when working together (e.g., competition vs. collaboration) [52,53]. Whether the same applies to VR environments is not clear because there is not much research that has looked at this in detail.…”