Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
C
HAPTER
T
EN
H
EURISTIC
E
VALUATION
:
A
G
UIDE FOR
U
SE IN
I
NFORMATION
V
ISUALIZATION
C
AMILLA
F
ORSELL
Abstract
This chapter presents a review of the heuristic evaluation method with
recommendations for how to apply it in information visualization
evaluation. Heuristic evaluation is a widely known and popular method
within the area of human-computer interaction. The information
visualization community now also recognizes its usefulness and merit.
However, in information visualization it is not applied to the same extent.
One reason is that it is not well known to practitioners. Another reason is
that in its original form the method has limitations that need to be
considered and overcome for it to be truly valid for information
visualization. This chapter aims to provide the reader with knowledge
about the method and awareness of which issues call for refined or
supplemental resources and actions to generate as valid and useful results
as possible for information visualization. It also discusses a number of
research challenges for future work in how to further improve the method.
Introduction
The purpose of any information visualization process is to promote insight
and understanding [1]. This implies that its goal is to create a perceivable,
comprehensible and useful visualization of data. By implication, a
visualization's usability and evaluation become key issues and challenges
to visualization design. As such, they must become an integral part of
visualization research and development.
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