Being Literate with Large Document Collections: Observational Studies and Cost Structure Tradeoffs
Source:
Volume 3, p.55 (2006)
URL:
http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~malcolm/yahoo/Russell2006(BeingLiterateLargeDocumentCollectionsHICSS).pdf
Abstract:
How do people work with large document
collections? We studied the effects of different kinds
of analysis tools on the behavior of people doing
rapid large-volume data assessment, analysis and
organization. We analyzed the micro-structure
details of using automated clustering techniques, the
use of standard timeline and cluster visualization
methods, alongside desktop paper sorting and piling.
We find that the “natural” methods people use (with
piles of paper documents) are in fact very
sophisticated and have a subtlety that is lacking in
current computer interfaces. This analysis shows that
the lack of expressiveness and responsiveness in
current interface designs dramatically limits human
performance, suggesting ways in which the next
generation of analytic tools must evolve in order to
support literate use of large volume / complex
document collections.
