Title:	EVALUATING SUNBURST AND ICICLE SPACE-FILLING TECHNIQUES IN SHOWING LARGE HIERARCHICAL DATA
Author(s):	Sujay Muramalla, Ragaad AlTarawneh, Shah Rukh Humayoun, Ricarda Moses, Achim Ebert
ISBN:	978-989-8533-56-2
Editors:	Hans Weghorn
Year:	2016
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Usability, User Experience, Information Visualization, Hierarchical Data Structures, Human Computer Interaction
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	123
Last Page:	130
Language:	English
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Paper Abstract:	Space-filling techniques have been used in the information visualization field as an alternative to the conventional node-link layouts for intuitively showing large hierarchies in less space. Different space filling layouts have been designed, developed and evaluated; however, very less effort have been made to look into how layout can impact user task performance on hierarchical data structures. In this paper, we focus on the impact of layout on user task performance by conducting evaluation studies for two common space-filling layout structures, the Sunburst (radial) layout and the Icicle (rectangular) layout. In our studies, users performed eight search-based tasks on files and directories in the resulting visualizations, first in a controlled environment and subsequently in an online environment. We focused on deriving user performance metrics with regard to effectiveness, efficiency, and user acceptance. Results demonstrate a mixed view of task performance and preference with both layouts, e.g., users performed better with the Icicle layout while they preferred the Sunburst layout for visual aesthetics. Overall, through these studies we were able to derive causal relationships between the layout and the user task performance while interacting with hierarchical data structures.
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