CS 3724: Introduction to HCI

Homework #4

The goal of this homework is to creatively design a visualization of some information using zooming and overview concepts.

Software: Download and install the KidPad 1.0 software. Read the User Guide to learn the buttons and key commands. For further info, Kidpad is based on the Jazz/Piccolo toolkit for zoomable Java applications. (If all else fails, contact GTA Jason Lee to use KidPad in the McBryde 104c HCI lab).

Important notes about KidPad:

KidPad is research software and, hence, not necessarily bug free. Save your work often, and copy intermediate kidpad files to a backup directory in case files get corrupted.
Avoid importing large images into your information space, as there have been reports that using large images increases likelihood of crashes, corrupted files, and lost work.
If the text entry tool does not work, try: use the java version (1.3) that comes packaged in KidPad, or set your screen resolution to match the KidPad resolution (1024x768 or 800x600).

Design: Use KidPad to design an interactive zoomable visualization of an information topic of your choice. Choose a topic that is rich enough to make visualization interesting. Some topic ideas are:

your interactive resumé or life history
a favorite hobby
NCAA football

Be creative. Include information of different data types, such as tabular quantitative, tree-structured, spatial, and text data. Your design should make good use of information visualization principles and the zooming concept, including:

"Overview first" to see major trends at the top level.
Zoom in to drill down into more detailed data.
Visualize information by mapping data to graphics.

Report: Write a 1-2 page report that includes:

Name and PID.
Describe the essence of your design. Is it successful?
What data types did you include in your visualization?
How does your design provide an overview of the information?
List some specific mappings you used to map data to graphics.
How is your design similar to and different from a hypertext design with pages and hyperlinks?

Attach an additional page with a snapshot of your opening kidpad overview scene (color not necessary).

Submit: Submit your kidpad files online using the VT BlackBoard system, using the Digital Drop Box option. Be sure to use the 'Send File' button to submit a file to us, otherwise we wont be able to see it. Zip and submit the ".kidpad" file and ".jpg" file of your design. These files can be found in the "KidPad1.0/saved-files" folder. Use the following naming convention for all submitted files: <lastname>_<firstname>_HW3.*. Double check that you are sending the correct files by testing them. Due by class time.

Hardcopy of report due in class.

Note on Grading:

You will not be graded on the massiveness of how much info you cram into kidpad. You will be graded on how you apply the 3 visualization principles above. Hence your info should be deep enough to warrant overview and zooming multiple levels. But do not worry about huge amounts of breadth. Its ok to point out which parts of the space you have filled in with depth to demonstrate your ideas, while other parts are shallow. Think about what info should be bubbled up to the overview level and what can be pushed down to the detail levels. Think about what more complex tasks your overview will enable. E.g. if you are doing an interactive resumé, how could I see what classes you excelled at, or how long you spent at your various jobs, has your life been a roller coaster or smooth sailing...