SPEED AND EFFICIENCY IN USE A user centered study of GUI:s for information visualization

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to find ways to improve usability for an information visualization tool as TIBCO Spotfire with particular focus on speed and efficiency in use. The work was carried out with two users as targets and followed a user centered approach. Target users were encoded as personas and they were provided by TIBCO Software Spotfire Division. The target users’ tasks were first analyzed and then scenarios for the two targets were tested across four different commercial applications in a comparative walkthrough. The results from the analysis were then encoded in design goals and recommendations. With regard to these goals and recommendations seven conceptual designs were created. After a synergy evaluation and a goals and recommendation evaluation of these seven concepts two concepts were chosen for more in depth design. The in depth designs provide a more detailed view on these two concepts, evaluating benefits and important design parameters for speed and efficiency.