Improving graphical information system model use with elision and connecting lines

Abstract

We studied the impact of large screens and of two promising visual integration techniques, elision and connecting lines, which can decrease the cognitive efforts of designers to read diagrams. We conducted a laboratory experiment using 84 computer-science students to investigate the impact of these techniques on the accuracy of the subjects' search and recall with entity-relationship diagrams and data flow diagrams.Both vertical and horizontal searches were conducted on a moderately complex information system model that consists of multiple diagrams. We also examined i n t e r a c t i o n s . . . n o v e m b e r + d e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

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