The Cognitive Science of Visual‐Spatial Displays: Implications for Design

Hegarty, Mary

doi:10.1111/j.1756-8765.2011.01150.x

Cited by 266 publications

(228 citation statements)

References 88 publications

(125 reference statements)

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“…The map reader's eyes must sense and interpret visual variables such as shape, size, colour, texture, and orientation, and then cognitively process this information to create meaning (Bertin 1983;MacEachren 1995;Perkins et al 2011). Well-designed visualisations can augment and enhance this cognitive processing by reducing cognitive load and facilitating inductive reasoning (Hegarty 2011;Patterson et al 2014). Accordingly, visual map products have been found to improve comprehension of hazard information when compared to non-visual communication formats such as text and tables (Severtson and Vatovec 2012;Cheong et al 2016;Cao et al 2016).…”

Section: Visual Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

More Than Meets the Eye: Volcanic Hazard Map Design and Visual Communication

Thompson

Lindsay

Leonard

2017

Advances in Volcanology

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Volcanic hazard maps depict areas that may be affected by dangerous volcanic processes, such as pyroclastic density currents, lava flows, lahars, and tephra fall. These visualisations of volcanic hazard information are used to communicate with a wide variety of audiences both during times of dormancy and volcanic crisis. Although most volcanic hazard maps show similar types of content, such as hazard footprints or zones, they vary greatly in communication style, appearance, and visual design. For example, maps for different volcanoes will use different combinations of graphics, symbols, colours, base maps, legends, and text. While this variety is a natural reflection of the diverse social, cultural, political, and volcanic settings in which the maps are created, crises and past work suggest that such visual design choices can potentially play an important role in volcanic crisis communication by influencing how people understand the hazard map and use it to make decisions. Map reading is a complex process, in which people construct meaning by interpreting the various visual representations within the context of their information needs, goals, knowledge, and experience. Visual design of the map and the characteristics of the hazard map audience can therefore influence how hazard maps are understood and applied. Here, we review case studies of volcanic crises and interdisciplinary research that addresses the relationship between hazard maps, visual design, and communication. Overall, this growing body of work suggests that volcanic hazard maps can be very useful visual tools for crisis communication if they are designed in a way that provides clear and useful information for the audience. Further, while it is important that each map is designed for its unique situation and setting, engaging with hazard map audiences to better understand their information needs and considering lessons learnt from interdisciplinary work on visual communication can help inform and guide knowledge exchange using maps.

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Section: Visual Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

More Than Meets the Eye: Volcanic Hazard Map Design and Visual Communication

Thompson

Lindsay

Leonard

2017

Advances in Volcanology

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“…If visual display design has a significant impact for simple displays of small-scale data (e.g., a graph), then the impact could be even greater for complex displays of data. With regular technology-based change in the visual presentation and complexity of tasks, research on the role of visual display design in complex tasks is essential (Hegarty, 2011).…”

Section: Spatial Organization Of Visual Information For Complex Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for unpacking cognitive benefits of distributed complex visual displays.

Jang¹,

Schunn²

2014

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of spatially stacked (i.e., when information sources are presented side-by-side) versus distributed (i.e., when information sources are sitting on top of one another with only the top source fully visible) organizations of information? We introduce a new theoretical decomposition of these advantages and disadvantages (information internalization, information access, and information externalization costs), along with a new analytic technique for measuring each theoretical aspects using eye tracking. Thirty-eight scientists-in-training solved a complex data interpretation problem using either a distributed or a stacked display. Display format influenced all 3 factors, but in opposing ways: stacked displays increase internalization and externalization costs but decrease information access costs. The framework reveals trade-offs among the 3 factors that can be precisely characterized to guide interface user design and optimization.

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“…Since memory and retention are common impairments in patients with TBI and may affect ambulation, supplementing (or enhancing) this information through visual biofeedback, thereby decreasing cognitive load, may improve performance. With the incorporation of visual biofeedback, the participant has the ability to offload internal memory storage onto perceptual processes and pattern recognition of the external source, making this an attractive mechanism for implementing informative dynamic balance training [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Impact of Visual Biofeedback on Postural Control Via Informative Dynamic Balance Training in Healthy Individuals

Massenzo

Pidcoe²

2015

Int J Phys Med Rehabil

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Objective: After traumatic brain injury (TBI), postural instability often results. This can effect ambulation and, subsequently, activities of daily living. Various forms of rehabilitation have been developed, but few offer engaging activities that provide informative dynamic balance training. The goal of this pilot study was to build a goal-based system that provided visual biofeedback to create an enriched environment for dynamic postural rehabilitation. The study aimed to determine if visual biofeedback had an effect on posture and balance during training for healthy participants; as well as determine the optimal man-machine visual-biofeedback interface.Method: A modified elliptical trainer was developed that incorporated visual-biofeedback from measured left and right lower extremity loads. Four visual displays were constructed and tested on a sample of 15 healthy participants. These displays provided targeted feedback to aid in symmetric performance. The displays differed in the amount of information provided and in the extent of algorithmic pre-processing. Data were evaluated by calculating the index of symmetry (IOS) and statistically comparing display types.Results: Participants performed significantly better with the introduction of visual biofeedback than baseline measurements with no display based on index of symmetry values. The data suggests that the feedback display that incorporated both temporal historical data and differential pre-processing performed the best. This display was called the differential-temporal display. Conclusion:Our results reflect that performance is enhanced with the introduction of visual biofeedback during dynamic postural training. We also established that the differential-temporal display was the optimal feedback system to reduce IOS values during elliptical trainer use. From our results, it became apparent that incorporating visual biofeedback during postural training is a sophisticated approach to improve baseline asymmetries inherent in healthy participants. It is anticipated that similar results are likely to occur in a cohort of TBI patients due to the reduction of cognitive demand.

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The Cognitive Science of Visual‐Spatial Displays: Implications for Design

Cited by 266 publications

References 88 publications

More Than Meets the Eye: Volcanic Hazard Map Design and Visual Communication

More Than Meets the Eye: Volcanic Hazard Map Design and Visual Communication

A framework for unpacking cognitive benefits of distributed complex visual displays.

Investigating the Impact of Visual Biofeedback on Postural Control Via Informative Dynamic Balance Training in Healthy Individuals

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