Adaptive Initial Users’ Overview of a Map Visualisation

The ability to customise different aspects of a visualisation system for users is typically lacking in current applications[30]. This results in less immediate and relevant visualisation information to users, as all users are presented with the same overview irrespective of their persona. This thesis proposes a dynamic, adaptive visualisation system that customises the initial view of the visualisation based on the information received from users. This adaptive approach improves the upfront user experience connected with the first stage in Shneiderman’s Information Seeking Mantra ’overview first’[57]. This thesis aims to explore whether and how the users’ interactions in the first four steps of Shneiderman’s tasks [57] can be used to create the appropriate early experience for future users with the same goals or characteristics. The evaluation confirms the possibility of the idea and raises further questions and issues.