Graphical presentation of boolean expressions in a database query language: design notes and an ergonomic evaluation

Michard, Alain

doi:10.1080/01449298208914452

Cited by 56 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…[1,2]). Several researchers have noted that the common usage of these operators in natural language causes errors in queries, such as the substitution of AND for OR [11,12]. It has also been noted that the intended scope of the NOT operator is ambiguous in natural language [13].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tabular and textual methods for selecting objects from a group

Pane

Myers

Proceeding 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Visual Languages

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The accurate formulation of boolean expressions is a notorious problem in programming languages and database query tools. This paper studies the ways that untrained users naturally express and interpret queries, revealing some of the underlying reasons why this task is so difficult. Among the study ' IntroductionWe are applying human-computer interaction techniques to the design of new programming language features. Design decisions are resolved by looking to prior research for warnings about potential problems, suggestions for design alternatives, and guidance in selecting among various potential solutions. When necessary, we perform new user studies to investigate questions that are not fully addressed by prior research.We are currently using this method to design a primarily textual programming system for children to use in creating interactive simulations and games. One of the challenges of this effort is to craft the features of the system to address the problems observed in the prior research. While this is straightforward in some cases, it is quite difficult in others.One of the more notorious problem areas in programming languages is the accurate specification of boolean expressions [1]. In addition to programming languages, this same problem also appears in the task of formulating queries for common end-user activities such as web searching, library catalog searching, and other database retrieval tasks [2]. Despite the great difficulty that users have demonstrated with using the boolean operators AND , OR , and NOT to construct these expressions, no universally better alternatives have been discovered, so most programming languages continue to rely on them, including many visual and forms-based languages (e.g., [3,4]). Early web search engines also used these operators, although many have turned to less expressive query languages (for example, the plus and minus unary operators for inclusion and exclusion). Newsweek reports that even with these simplifications, most web users are dissatisfied with search engines, and less than 6% manage to use these operators in their searches [5]. The problems with boolean queries are exemplified in studies of non-programmers writing solutions to programming problems in their own words [6,7]. For example, in these studies it was very common for participants to use the word AND where the word OR is the correct boolean operator. Instead of saying something like "count the cars with license plates from Georgia or Louisiana" they would say "count the cars with license plates from Georgia and Louisiana." The latter version refers to an empty set of license plates when interpreted according to boolean logic, but in English it is usually interpreted to mean the union of the two states' license plates.1 It was also noted that the words OR and NOT rarely appeared, suggesting that boolean expressions are not a natural way to formulate these statements. The participants often used other words and sentence structures to specify their queries accurately. For example, rathe...

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Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tabular and textual methods for selecting objects from a group

Pane

Myers

Proceeding 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Visual Languages

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“…In a review of previous experiments (for example, Greene et al [23] and Michard [37]), Young and Shneiderman [53] note that a common error in textual query languages is that of using the logical AND operator as opposed to the logical OR operator when translating from English sentences. They also note that users found it dif®cult to specify precedence in query expressions due to``parenthesis complexity'' [39].…”

Section: General Database Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Filter Flow Visual Querying Language and Interface for Spatial Databases

et al. 2004

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In this paper a visual approach to querying in spatial databases is presented. A ®lter¯ow methodology is used to consistently express different types of queries in these systems. Filters are used to represent operations on the database and pictorial icons are used throughout the language for ®lters, operators and spatial relations. Different granularities of the relations are presented in a hierarchical fashion for spatial constraints. The language framework and functions are described and examples are used to demonstrate its capabilities in representing different levels of queries, including spatial joins and composite spatial joins. Here, the primary focus is on the query language itself but an overview of the implemented interface of the language is also provided.

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“…For example, Jock Mackinlay at Xerox PARC used circular Venn diagrams as his starting point and he ran into this exact problem of how to devise an arrangement for the cases that involve more than three intersecting sets (personal communication). There are also the interfaces by Michard (1982) and that use the Venn diagrams as their key visual metaphor, and they have not been able to move beyond three intersecting sets. We will now present designs that show how we could combine the rank layout of the InfoCrystal with Venn diagrams for the case of at most five intersecting sets (see Figures 3.16 to 3.18).…”

Section: Combining the Infocrystal With Venn Diagramsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cougar: has developed a browsing interface, called Cougar, for displaying multiple category information, using the familiar Venn diagram approach as employed by Michard (1982). It is strictly speaking not a full-fledged visual query language.…”

Section: Visual Query Languagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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InfoCrystal: A visual tool for information retrieval

Spoerri¹

Proceedings Visualization '93

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Graphical presentation of boolean expressions in a database query language: design notes and an ergonomic evaluation

Cited by 56 publications

References 7 publications

Tabular and textual methods for selecting objects from a group

Tabular and textual methods for selecting objects from a group

A Filter Flow Visual Querying Language and Interface for Spatial Databases

InfoCrystal: A visual tool for information retrieval

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