This is the Table I Want! Interactive Data Transformation on Desktop and in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Data transformation is an essential step in data science. While experts primarily use programming to transform their data, there is an increasing need to support non-programmers with user interface-based tools. With the rapid development in interaction techniques and computing environments, we report our empirical findings about the effects of interaction techniques and environments on performing data transformation tasks. Specifically, we studied the potential benefits of direct interaction and virtual reality (VR) for data transformation. We compared gesture interaction versus a standard WIMP user interface, each on the desktop and in VR. With the tested data and tasks, we found time performance was similar between desktop and VR. Meanwhile, VR demonstrates preliminary evidence to better support provenance and sense-making throughout the data transformation process. Our exploration of performing data transformation in VR also provides initial affirmation for enabling an iterative and fully immersive data science workflow.

arXiv commentIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG), to appear

References in corpus (8)

• NL4DV: A Toolkit for Generating Analytic Specifications for Data Visualization from Natural Language Queries
• Towards Natural Language Interfaces for Data Visualization: A Survey
• Shared Surfaces and Spaces: Collaborative Data Visualisation in a Co-located Immersive Environment
• AutoDS: Towards Human-Centered Automation of Data Science
• Tilt Map: Interactive Transitions Between Choropleth Map, Prism Map and Bar Chart in Immersive Environments
• Embodied Navigation in Immersive Abstract Data Visualization: Is Overview+Detail or Zooming Better for 3D Scatterplots?
• Visualizing the Scripts of Data Wrangling with SOMNUS
• Responsive Matrix Cells: A Focus+Context Approach for Exploring and Editing Multivariate Graphs