Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
influenced by the beginning of the web age. Different visual systems have been proposed to cope
with the need for extracting information residing on the web, though they are not yet satisfactory.
In this lecture, the web and mobile interaction have been included as 'advanced applications,' but, in
fact, for many in the world, including large parts of Africa, India and China, the only interaction with
computation is through web access over a mobile phone. While the desktop-based multi-mega-pixel
display visualisation system may be the norm for certain forms of highly expert data analysis, for
many users and many applications completely different paradigms will be needed.
More research is needed, in terms not only of different interaction metaphors and modalities,
but also of radically different approaches enabling users to focus on the tasks they wish to perform
rather than managing information. Making tasks simple for the user requires both intuitive inter-
faces and sophisticated infrastructure, based on semantic techniques for transparent, automatic but
auditable management of data. Moving to task-oriented systems represents a crucial shift from data-
centric user interfaces, which have characterized over forty years of Computer Science. Furthermore,
user interfaces need to be able to interpret the user's aims and to support context dependent execution
of the user's tasks.
Finally, while desktop visual interfaces and information visualization techniques (often with
large displays) are usually considered the most usable approaches, they assume unimpaired vision
and cognitive abilities, not to mention often a level of technical sophistication. There are many, the
disabled, the elderly, the very young, for whom these assumptions do not apply. Furthermore, even
for the fully-abled and well-trained users, there are circumstances, such as heavy stress and poor
working conditions. For these, users and/or contexts existing complex visual interfaces may not be
appropriate, so other interactive paradigms need to be explored offering interaction choices, which
allow equivalent functionality but fits the user's needs and preferences.
