Abstract
Flow maps are a common form of geographic information visualization to show the movement of information from one location to another. Visual variables are essential elements of information representation. Previous studies have evaluated the perceived effectiveness of individual visual variables in a flow. However, the composition of flows usually includes multiple visual variables, and how to evaluate the usability of multiple visual variables has not been well documented. In this study, we investigated the influence of four visual variables (Thickness, Length, Brightness, and Hue) in flows on size perception. The results showed that length and brightness had a significant influence on the accuracy of size perception, while hue had no significance. Furthermore, multiple visual variables might involve a higher visual complexity and have a significant effect on response efficiency. In addition, we found that different references significantly affect the results of comparison judgments. The basic study could help improve the usability of flow maps in geographic information visualization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bertin, J.: Graphics and Graphic Information Processing. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin (1981)
Wolfe, J.M., Horowitz, T.S.: What attributes guide the deployment of visual attention and how do they do it? Nat. Rev. Neuros 5, 495–501 (2004)
Moody, D.: The “physics” of notations: toward a scientific basis for constructing visual notations in software engineering. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 35(6), 756–779 (2009)
Bertin, J.: Semiology of Graphics: Diagrams, Networks, Maps. Univ. Wisconsin Press, Madison (1983)
Morrison, J.L.: A theoretical framework for cartographic generalization with the emphasis on the process of symbolization. Int. Yearb. Cartogr. 14(1974), 115–127 (1974)
MacEachren, A.M.: Visualizing uncertain information. Cartograph. Perspect. 13(13), 10–19 (1992)
MacEachren, A.M.: How Maps Work: Representation, Visualization, and Design. Guilford Press, New York (2004)
Carpendale, M., Sheelagh T.: Considering visual variables as a basis for information visualisation (2003)
Jenny, B., et al.: Design principles for origin-destination flow maps. Cartogr. Geogr. Inf. Sci. 45(1), 62–75 (2018)
Dong, W., et al.: Using eye tracking to evaluate the usability of flow maps. ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 7(7), 281 (2018)
Holten, D., et al.: An extended evaluation of the readability of tapered, animated, and textured directed-edge representations in node-link graphs. In: 2011 IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (2011)
Reimer, A.: Squaring the circle? Bivariate colour maps and Jacques Bertins concept of disassociation. In: Proceedings of the International Cartographic Conference 2011, pp. 3–8 (2011)
Garner, W.R.: The Processing of Information and Structure. Psychology Press, New York (2014)
Spence, I.: The apparent and effective dimensionality of representations of objects. Hum. Factors 46(4), 738–747 (2004)
Redmond, S.: Visual cues in estimation of part-to-whole comparisons. In: 2019 IEEE Visualization Conference (VIS). IEEE (2019)
Stevens, S.S.: On the psychophysical law. Psychol. Rev. 64(3), 153 (1957)
Jordan, K., Schiano, D.J.: Serial processing and the parallel-lines illusion: length contrast through relative spatial separation of contours. Percept. Psychophys. 40(6), 384–390 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208197
Simkin, D., Hastie, R.: An information-processing analysis of graph perception. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 82, 454–465 (1987)
Spense, I.: No humble pie: the origins and usage of a statistical chart. J. Educ. Behav. Stat. 30, 353–368 (2005)
Wyszecki, G., Stiles, W.S.: Color Science: Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulae, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York (2000)
Xiao, K., et al.: Investigation of colour size effect for colour appearance assessment. Color Res. Appl. 36(3), 201–209 (2011)
Tedford, W.H., Berquist, S.L., Flynn, W.E.: The size-color illusion. J. Gen. Psychol. 97, 145–150 (1977)
Marks, L.E.: The Unity of the Senses: Interrelations Among the Modalities. Academic Press, Cambridge (2014)
COLOR BREWER Homepage. http://colorbrewer2.org. Accessed 21 Nov 2019
Tufte, E.R.: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Graphics Press. Connecticut, Cheshire (1983)
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC, Grant No. 71871056 & No. 71471037).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Lin, Y., Xue, C., Zhu, Y., Tong, M. (2020). The Effect of Multiple Visual Variables on Size Perception in Geographic Information Visualization. In: Krömker, H. (eds) HCI in Mobility, Transport, and Automotive Systems. Automated Driving and In-Vehicle Experience Design. HCII 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12212. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50523-3_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50523-3_24
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-50522-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-50523-3
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)