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End-user development (EUD) seeks to facilitate the extension and customisation of systems during use, with increasing possibilities as the Internet-of-Things (IoT) computing paradigm becomes widespread and expands into realms such as the smart home. This exploratory research study explores two popular physical computing platforms, oriented towards novice makers, that allow end-user developers to create and deploy an IoT smart home sensor device, as well as visualise the resulting data in the cloud. The end users' experiences are evaluated against known EUD design principles, finding that the platforms in their current state are only partially able to meet two of the principles. Such end-to-end IoT prototyping platforms are a relatively recent offering of these maker-focused organisations and, despite some issues in their current state, they offer the potential to increase the ability of end-users to prototype across the complex layers of an IoT system. Future possibilities around the data visualisation layer and for integration with visual programming work are identified, to improve the end-users' ability to deeply customise their IoT systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an empirical study to determine whether alterations to graphical features (colour and size) of automatically generated LineSets improve task performance. LineSets are used to visualise sets and networks. The increasingly common nature of such data suggests that having effective visualisations is important. Unlike many approaches to set and network visualisation, which often use concave or convex shapes to represent sets alongside graphs, LineSets use lines overlaid on a graph. LineSets have been shown to be advantageous over shape-based approaches. However, the graphical properties of LineSets have not been fully explored. Our results suggest that automatically drawn LineSets can be significantly improved for certain tasks through the considered use of colour alongside size variations applied to their graphical elements. In particular, we show that perceptually distinguishable colours, lines of varying width, and nodes of varying diameter lead to improved task performance in automatically laid-out LineSets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate learners' interaction with the learning dashboards as a predictor outcome of an online learning experience and, to what extent this interaction data could be used to predict and/or provide guidance through their academic performance. For this purpose, a prescriptive learning dashboard integrated into an e-learning environment was developed as a learning analytics tool. The participants consisted of 126 higher education students enrolled in the 12-week Computer Networks and Communication course. Data gathered through logs and academic performances of learners were analysed with data mining techniques. The result of cluster analysis, based on interaction with the prescriptive learning dashboard, showed that learners were separated into four groups according to their behavioural patterns. A similar pattern appears when the related clusters are profiled based on the academic performances. At predictive analysis, the study indicates that the interaction with prescriptive learning dashboard had certain effects on academic performance of learners significantly and artificial neural networks algorithm yielded the best performance for predicting academic performance. The results support that the usage prescriptive learning dashboards can be applied in online courses as an instructional aid to improve performance of learners and learning design in e-learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating an interactive, accurate, and low-latency big data visualisation is challenging due to the volume, variety, and velocity of the data. Visualisation options range from visualising the entire big dataset, which could take a long time and be taxing to the system, to visualising a small subset of the dataset, which could be fast and less taxing to the system but could also lead to a less-beneficial visualisation as a result of information loss. The main research questions investigated by this work are what effect sampling has on visualisation insight and how to provide guidance to users in navigating this trade-off. To investigate these issues, we study an initial case of simple estimation tasks on histogram visualisations of sampled big data, in hopes that these results may generalise. Leveraging sampling, we generate subsets of large datasets and create visualisations for a crowd-sourced study involving a simple cognitive visualisation task. Using the results of this study, we quantify insight, sampling, visualisation, and perception error in comparison to the full dataset. We use these results to model the relationship between sample size and insight error, and we propose the use of our model to guide big data visualisation sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shortly after fixating on webpages, users form initial impressions. These initial impressions influence how much users will use and return to websites. Researchers have understudied how objective design features (e.g. visual complexity) influence subjective perceptions of website content and the favorability of initial user impressions. In the present study, the influence of two dimensions of visual complexity – feature complexity and design complexity – were tested within the boundaries of the persuasive model of web design. More specifically, the study examined how visual complexity influences perceptions of visual informativeness, cues for engagement, favourable initial impressions, and behavioural intentions in a sample of young adults (N = 277). Results suggest relationships for both dimensions of visual complexity on all outcome variables using ANOVA and OLS regression procedures and that perceptions of visual informativeness and cues for engagement mediate the relationship between visual complexity and favourable initial impressions and behavioural intentions. The study offers support for the utility of the persuasive model of web design for linking objective design features with subjective design perceptions to better understand favourable initial user impressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual representations of data introduce several possible challenges for the human visual perception system in perceiving brightness levels. Overcoming these challenges might be simplified by adding sound to the representation. This is called sonification. As sonification provides additional information to the visual information, sonification could be useful in supporting the visual perception. In the present study, usefulness (in terms of accuracy and response time) of sonification was investigated with an interactive sonification test. In the test, participants were asked to identify the highest brightness level in a monochrome visual representation. The task was performed in four conditions, one with no sonification and three with different sonification settings. The results show that sonification is useful, as measured by higher task accuracy, and that the participant's musicality facilitates the use of sonification with better performance when sonification was used. The results were also supported by subjective measurements, where participants reported an experienced benefit of sonification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing is gaining increasing interest as an enabling technology for improved productivity, efficiency and cost reduction. It also has the potential to add value to reliability and scalability of organisation’s systems, which would allow organisations to better focus on their core business and strategies. This research paper aimed at exploring the perceived potential for value creation from cloud computing in Australian Regional Governments. Using the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and Desires Framework (DF), a conceptual research model is devised. The key identified factors that are likely to influence adoption of cloud computing are identified along with the implications to current policies, anticipated benefits and challenges of adoption of cloud computing. The research employed a qualitative approach involving 21 in-depth interviews with Australian local councils’ IT managers. The findings of this research are mapped to the research model factors, thereby presenting and validating a number of value-adding concepts that are expected to contribute to investment decisions on cloud computing adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to the advancements in ubiquitous and wearable technologies, Personal Informatics (PI) systems can now reach a larger audience of users. However, it is not still clear whether this kind of tool can fit the needs of their daily lives. Our research aims at identifying specific barriers that may prevent the widespread adoption of PI and finding solutions to overcome them. We requested users without competence in self-tracking to use different PI instruments during their daily practices, identifying five user requirements by which to design novel PI tools. On such requirements, we developed a new system that can stimulate the use of these technologies, by enhancing the perceived benefits of collecting personal data. Then, we explored how naïve and experienced users differently explore their personal data in our system through a user trial. Results showed that the system was successful at helping individuals manage and interpret their own data, validated the usefulness of the requirements found and inspired three further design opportunities that could orient the design of future PI systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We gathered ethnographic evidence from surgeons about the concept of gesture-based control over the display of their patients’ radiographic scan data during surgery. This would give the surgeons direct access to their patients’ scan data without compromising their sterile working field and without needing to rely on other clinicians to interpret display instructions. Our approach involved interviewing surgeons and observing them in the operating theatre. We included evidence from earlier publications in this field and we used a grounded theory approach to analyse our data. Our findings address diversity across the surgical specialties, preoperative versus intraoperative use of the data, preferences for simple natural gestures, the role of another person controlling the display, broad system constraints and the willingness of surgeons to collaborate with their time and effort in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Gestural interaction devices emerged and originated various studies on multimodal human–computer interaction to improve user experience (UX). However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the use of these devices to enhance learning. We present an exploratory study which analysed the UX with a multimodal immersive videogame prototype, based on a Portuguese historical/cultural episode. Evaluation tests took place in high school environments and public videogaming events. Two users would be present simultaneously in the same virtual reality (VR) environment: one as the helmsman aboard Vasco da Gama’s fifteenth-century Portuguese ship and the other as the mythical Adamastor stone giant at the Cape of Good Hope. The helmsman player wore a VR headset to explore the environment, whereas the giant player used body motion to control the giant, and observed results on a screen, with no headset. This allowed a preliminary characterisation of UX, identifying challenges and potential use of these devices in multi-user virtual learning contexts. We also discuss the combined use of such devices, towards future development of similar systems, and its implications on learning improvement through multimodal human–computer interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses a study on the use and accessibility of portable document format (PDF) for exchanging electronic documents. Topics include the emergence of the World Wide Web (WWW), the definition and effectiveness of usability, and the origin of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. Also mentioned are the Code of Hammurabi and the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).

Reading scientific papers in portable document format (PDF)-columned formats on computer screens is sometimes daunting and unfriendly. This is mainly due to the fact that PDF-columned texts are often truncated from the top or the bottom of pages so that readers have to scroll up–down repeatedly in the same page to get the whole text read. To make the reading process as smooth as possible, PDF viewers should be designed as responsive tools with responsive layouts that should automatically adapt the amount of readable text to the sizes of the displaying monitors so that readers will not waste time in repetitive vertical and horizontal scrolling movements within the same page. Here, I discuss such a problem-solving proposal that could be implemented in PDF viewers to improve the readability of PDF-columned texts and to make the reading process as flexible and painless as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study is to understand whether warning messages help decision-makers recognise redundancy bias and reduce the effects of such bias during exposure to redundant information. We proposed a mechanism to reduce the effect of redundancy bias by presenting computer-supported warning messages during the decision process as a debiasing method, and tested this method via a longitudinal experiment with 108 subjects. Warnings could serve as an effective reminder of the presence of redundancy bias and reduce irrational increases in confidence. Further, these warnings could encourage people to carefully consider and adjust their decisions. The results showed that redundancy leads to repeated statements being rated as more valid than non-repeated statements. As predicted, with the help of the warnings, the participants were able to carefully reconsider and adjust their decisions, and they were somewhat satisfied with this feature. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aimed to evaluate how differently co-located users perform and interact while solving problems by using existing and newly developed interaction mechanisms of a multi-touch tabletop system on a large-size tabletop display. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate users’ perceived situation awareness due to the system. This study conducted one experiment and introduced three newly developed interaction mechanisms:two-way rubber band, drag-and-response,andcentre collection area.Two-way rubber band enables users not only to send but also to request digital objects. Drag-and-response allows users to accept or to reject digital objects sent by others; therefore, it eliminates conflicting situations and interference. Centre collection area stores, organises, and manages shared digital resources on a surface of a tabletop display, so that users have an overall picture of available resources. This paper discusses results of an experiment, research findings, and implications along with conclusions and several suggestions for future development and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the computer users with ocular aberrations such as myopia, hyperopia and other high-order aberrations are subject to visual blurring, which may impede the efficient interactions with the computers. Conventional methods used to counter visual blurring include spectacles and contact lenses. In this paper, we introduce an image preprocessing method that is designed to counteract the visual blurring caused by the aberration of the eye. In this method, the presented images are preprocessed by performing personalised compensation according to the ocular aberration of the computer user. In order to overcome the mismatch between the aberration used to generate the precompensation and the actual aberrations at the time of viewing, dynamic ocular aberrations are derived from the resizing of the initial aberration data measured by the wavefront analyzer. The dynamic ocular aberrations are used to update the image precompensation in real time. Results of human subject experiment show that the image recognition accuracy was significantly increased after the dynamic precompensation was applied. Subjective impressions from the participants confirmed the effectiveness of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study evaluated the effects of the three perceptual complexity factors: number of elements, colour variety, and graphical background clutter level, on older and younger adults’ target acquisition time within a computer display. Experiment 1 manipulated the total number of icons, Experiment 2 manipulated the variety of icon colours, and Experiment 3 manipulated the clutter level of the graphical background on the display. In each experiment, 12 older and 12 younger adults were asked to move a cursor to a target icon on the display as quickly and accurately as possible. Target size and distance to the cursor were also manipulated to yield different difficulties of targets. Target acquisition time and Fitts’ law slope were analysed. Results showed that target acquisition time increased for more difficult targets under all the three complexity factors. The amount of increase was more evident for the factors of colour variety and graphical background clutter than for the number of icons. Older participants performed more slowly than younger participants did, particularly for more difficult targets. However, the impact of the three complexity factors on acquisition time appeared to be comparable for both age groups. The results suggest that implementations of colour varieties and graphical backgrounds on interfaces should be restricted, especially when icon acquisition is a common activity involved in interacting with an interface. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Advances in display devices are facilitating the integration of stereoscopic visualisation in our daily lives. However, autostereoscopic visualisation has not been extensively exploited. In this paper, we present a system that combines augmented reality (AR) and autostereoscopic visualisation. We also present the first study that compares different aspects using an autostereoscopic display with AR and virtual reality (VR), in which 39 children from 8 to 10 years old participated. In our study, no statistically significant differences were found between AR and VR. However, the scores were very high in nearly all of the questions, and the children also scored the AR version higher in all cases. Moreover, the children explicitly preferred the AR version (81%). For the AR version, a strong and significant correlation was found between the use of the autostereoscopic screen in games and seeing the virtual object on the marker. For the VR version, two strong and significant correlations were found. The first correlation was between the ease of play and the use of the rotatory controller. The second correlation was between depth perception and the game global score. Therefore, the combinations of AR and VR with autostereoscopic visualisation are possibilities for developing edutainment systems for children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the most frequently used wayfinding aid for driving. Yet, GPS is designed to act as a driving guide rather than to help users gain spatial knowledge. Accordingly, GPS might be less usable in situations where such knowledge is required or highly desirable. In this study, we experimentally study the influence of GPS display scales (single-scale vs. dual-scale) using simulated driving tasks in a virtual environment. The single-scale GPS is similar to the regular GPS view. The dual-scale GPS aid is a dual-scale navigation tool that provides two levels of detail, including both detailed and contextual information. The results demonstrate that the dual-scale GPS was more efficient in leading the participants to the destination during the simulated driving and was more useful for the participants to establish spatial awareness and a cognitive map; the dual-scale GPS participants also reported higher subjective evaluations. The proposed dual-scale GPS design and experimental results show some indications for designing new wayfinding aids aimed at increasing wayfinding performance while simultaneously helping users construct a cognitive map. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The use of computer-based tests (CBTs) has spread rapidly in recent years, as such tests offer real-time scoring and immediate feedback, facilitate the use of individualised testing methods, improve test administration and reduce test expenses. Thus, most previous studies have tended to focus on the technical advantages of CBTs and on implementation issues. However, objections to the use of CBTs have begun to surface, and the primary concern is whether the scores of CBTs and those of paper-based tests (PBTs) are equivalent. The aim of this article is to compare the scores of Korean students on computer-based and paper-based versions of the same test. We focus on the differences between the scores of male and female participants and between scores on tests examining different subject matter. Surprisingly, even though the Korean students who participated in this study had more exposure to advanced information technologies such as computers, the Internet and multimedia than did students in other countries, they did not achieve higher CBT scores than PBT scores. This finding shows that familiarity with information technology and adaptation to CBTs are distinct. We also identified a fundamental reason for low CBT scores. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The virtual reality (VR) system has become popular in the last two decades and is being applied increasingly to navigation studies. This study developed a panorama manifestation (PM) VR system, with six monitors forming a circular display and an interactive chair equipped with rotation sensors and operating knobs. The advantages of the PM system include a large circular display, a body-centred design, body engagement and a low set-up cost. Based on navigation experimental tasks, this system's usability was compared with that of a typical desktop (DT) system. The results showed that participants using the PM system had a significantly higher success rate and required less completion time than participants using the DT system, indicating that the PM system outperforms the DT system in terms of effectiveness and efficiency in some navigation tasks, and also suggesting that the PM system may require lower spatial cognition workload in the navigation tasks. However, the participants’ subjective evaluations of task difficulty (TD) failed to reach significance although the PM group did report a lower mean value for TD. Additionally, in the PM system, the participants’ spatial ability was more predictive to their navigation performance than that in the DT system, indicating that the PM system offered greater usability for some spatial experiments and could provide more support for participants’ navigation tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated aesthetics and usability of in-vehicle electronic navigation maps. Experiment 1 examined map displays that varied in the amount of information presented, abstraction level, graphic/colour style and the existence of landmarks in both urban and rural environments using objective and subjective measures. Twenty participants performed navigation/localisation tasks using various map configurations while driving a driving simulator and completed usability and aesthetic questionnaires. The minimal detail map produced better performances and higher usability and aesthetic ratings when using maps with no landmarks. Adding information in the form of landmarks was found advantageous compared to additional textual information. Abstractions were most advantageous when combined with minimal amount of detail. Moderate abstractions were sufficient for obtaining the desired benefits when more details were present. The graphic/colour style affected subjective perceptions. Overall, high correlations were found for the perceived aesthetics and usability scales, however, low correlations were found between actual usability (i.e. performance) and perceived usability pointing to the importance of using both objective and subjective usability measures. Experiment 2 examined how maps varying in their aesthetic level (aesthetic versus non-aesthetic), different colour arrangements, and 2D versus 3D landmarks affect subjective and objective measures. Participants distinguished between usability and aesthetic perceptions and usability perceptions were less affected by aesthetics when the aesthetic level of the maps was low. Colour arrangement did not affect the measures examined. Both 2D and 3D landmarks were found to be aesthetic and usable. We conclude this article with guidelines for designing in-vehicle navigation map displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple-view visualisations offer several advantages, such as providing different perspectives on the data. However, there are also associated cognitive costs, including the load on working memory and the effort required for comparison. Furthermore, little perception-based research has been conducted, with few answers to questions such as what tasks multiple views are best used for. Since task performance can be limited by visual attention and working memory, this article investigates how different tasks and their respective loads on attention and working memory affect the usability of two different multiple-view visualisations, namely sequential and simultaneous views. In Study 1, the effects when attention was loaded were studied, where users performed a real-time monitoring task. The results suggest that the divided attention problem was an issue with both view types, but design issues apparent with the simultaneous view were not issues with the sequential view. In Study 2, the effects when working memory was loaded were studied, where users made comparisons of different object sets. The results support the previous work on visual- and memory-based comparisons, i.e. the simultaneous view was more useful than the sequential view. The outcomes from both studies illustrate the importance of understanding how different tasks and their impact on attention and working memory can influence the usability of multiple-view visualisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoomable user interfaces (ZUIs) have received a significant amount of attention in the 18 years since they were introduced. They have enjoyed some success, and elements of ZUIs are widely used in computers today, although the grand vision of a zoomable desktop has not materialised. This paper describes the premise and promise of ZUIs along with their challenges. It describes design guidelines, and offers a cautionary tale about research and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mobile electronic displays for geographic orientation and navigation are used increasingly in various civil and military domains. But it is still unclear which displays and kinds of map presentation suit best for specific purposes. In the present experiment, a head-mounted display (HMD) and a display from a personal digital assistant (PDA) were compared in a simulated geographic orientation task in an urban environment. Furthermore, the effect of three kinds of map presentation (egocentric, geocentric and geocentric with colour cues) was analysed. The simulated orientation task was projected on a screen and participants controlled their locomotion within the urban area by means of a joystick. Task completion time, peripheral attention, workload, fatigue and simulator sickness were registered as dependent variables. In comparison to the geocentric map the egocentric map showed a significant shorter task completion time and the geocentric map with colour cues a significant higher peripheral attention. Task completion time of the HMD and the PDA did not differ significantly. However, peripheral attention and most indices of workload, fatigue and simulator sickness were significantly better for the PDA. Therefore, the results recommend to apply PDAs and egocentric maps for comparable orientation tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To investigate the most efficient way to represent text in reading Chinese on computer displays, three typographic variables, character size (41′ arc/24 pixels and 60′ arc/32 pixels), character spacing (1/4 and 1/8 character width) and font type (Kai and Ming), were manipulated. Results showed that the reading speed for Chinese characters of Kai type in 24 pixels with 1/8 character spacing was the shortest. Character size significantly affected overall reading speed; in specific, text in 24-pixel characters was read faster than text in 32-pixel characters. Further eye-movement analyses revealed that text in smaller-sized characters had longer fixation duration, fewer fixations and fewer regressions than text in larger-sized characters. The interaction between character spacing and font type was observed on overall reading efficiency and on some eye-movement measures, which suggests that different character spacings should be considered in different font types for more efficient reading. Generally, characters in Kai font were easier to read with 1/8 character spacing than with 1/4 character spacing. The relationship between eye-movement measures and overall reading efficiency was further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The impact of sensorimotor transformations with graphical input devices is surveyed with regard to action control. Recent evidence lets us assume that the distal action effect (the moving cursor) rather than the proximal action effect (the moving hand) determines the efficiency of tool use. In Experiment 1, different gains were explored with a touchpad and a mini-joystick. In correspondence with our assumptions the results revealed evidence that Fitts' law holds for distal action-effect movements, but less for proximal action-effect movements. Most importantly, this was not only true for the touchpad but also for the mini-joystick. We further found a more efficient use of the touchpad in comparison to the mini-joystick when a high gain was used. In Experiment 2, the dominance of the action effect on motor control was confirmed in an experiment with a digitiser tablet. The tablet amplitude was held constant, but again, movement times followed the perceived index of difficulty on the display. It is concluded that Fitts' law did not rely on the movements of the motor system, but on the distal action effects on the display (changes in visual space). Distal action-effect control plays an important role in understanding the constraints of the acquisition and application of tool transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an ergonomic experiment, different mobile map displays were compared in a simulated geographical orientation task. Subjects had to cross mazes while the corresponding maps were presented on a hand-held display, two helmet-mounted displays (a retinal scanning and a liquid crystal display) or on paper. The simulated mazes were projected on a backlit screen and the subjects could cross them using a joystick. The displays were compared with regard to subjects' speed when crossing the mazes, experienced task difficulty, visual fatigue and simulator sickness. The results show that speed was lowest with the paper map and experienced task difficulty was highest, whereas no significant differences were found between the electronic displays. Visual fatigue and simulator sickness were low and no significant differences were observed between all displays. The conclusion is drawn that all electronic map displays can be used for short time periods (15 - 30 minutes); however, long term effects have to be analysed in future experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests screen reading is slower and possibly less accurate than reading from paper. Six study and test sessions over 10 months examined correct scores and retrieval responses for learning material presented via these two media. Correct scores did not differ suggesting that close matching of material can eliminate any decrement in reading speed or accuracy from screens. However, the way in which knowledge was retrieved varied between the presentational formats. These differences were time related and suggest that repeated exposure and rehearsal of computer-based information is necessary to equate knowledge application with that achievable from hard copy alternatives. It is suggested that this difference might be due to cognitive interference caused by cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor characteristics of refresh rates, fluctuating luminance, and contrast levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue including the use of computer-based technology in older people, the impact of perceptual complexity and the influence of entropy and interface complexity on online information-sharing behaviour.