TY - JOUR
T1 - “Whoa! We’re going deep in the trees!”
T2 - Patterns of collaboration around an interactive information visualization exhibit
AU - Davis, Pryce
AU - Horn, Michael
AU - Block, Florian
AU - Phillips, Brenda
AU - Evans, E. Margaret
AU - Diamond, Judy
AU - Shen, Chia
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - In this paper we present a qualitative analysis of natural history museum visitor interaction around a multi-touch tabletop exhibit called DeepTree that we designed around concepts of evolution and common descent. DeepTree combines several large scientific datasets and an innovative visualization technique to display a phylogenetic tree of life consisting of over 70,000 species. After describing our design, we present a study involving pairs of children interacting with DeepTree in two natural history museums. Our analysis focuses on two questions. First, how do dyads negotiate their moment-to-moment exploration of the exhibit? Second, how do dyads develop and negotiate their understanding of evolutionary concepts? In order to address these questions we present an analytical framework that describes dyads’ exploration along two dimensions: coordination and target of action. This framework reveals four distinct patterns of interaction, which, we argue, are relevant for similar interactive designs. We conclude with a discussion of the role of design in helping visitors make sense of interactive experiences involving the visualization of large scientific datasets.
AB - In this paper we present a qualitative analysis of natural history museum visitor interaction around a multi-touch tabletop exhibit called DeepTree that we designed around concepts of evolution and common descent. DeepTree combines several large scientific datasets and an innovative visualization technique to display a phylogenetic tree of life consisting of over 70,000 species. After describing our design, we present a study involving pairs of children interacting with DeepTree in two natural history museums. Our analysis focuses on two questions. First, how do dyads negotiate their moment-to-moment exploration of the exhibit? Second, how do dyads develop and negotiate their understanding of evolutionary concepts? In order to address these questions we present an analytical framework that describes dyads’ exploration along two dimensions: coordination and target of action. This framework reveals four distinct patterns of interaction, which, we argue, are relevant for similar interactive designs. We conclude with a discussion of the role of design in helping visitors make sense of interactive experiences involving the visualization of large scientific datasets.
KW - Collaboration
KW - Evolution
KW - Information visualization
KW - Interactive tabletops
KW - Learning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925481217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11412-015-9209-z
DO - 10.1007/s11412-015-9209-z
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84925481217
SN - 1556-1607
VL - 10
SP - 53
EP - 76
JO - International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
JF - International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
IS - 1
ER -