You say Potato, I say Po-Data : Physical Template Tools for Authoring Visualizations

Wun, Tiffany and Oehlberg, Lora and Sturdee, Miriam and Carpendale, Sheelagh (2019) You say Potato, I say Po-Data : Physical Template Tools for Authoring Visualizations. In: TEI 2019 - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction :. TEI 2019 - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction . ACM, New York, pp. 297-306. ISBN 9781450361965

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Abstract

Data visualization authoring tools for the general public remains an ongoing challenge. Inspired by block-printing, we explore how visualization stamps as a physical tool for authoring visualizations could leverage both visual freedom and ease of repetition. We conducted two workshops where participants authored visualizations on paper using hand-carved stamps made from potatoes and sponges. The low-fidelity medium freed participants to test new stamp patterns and accept mistakes. From the created visualizations, we observed several unique traits and uses of block-printing tools for authoring visualizations, including: modularity of patterns; annotation guides; creation of multiple patterns from one stamp; and various techniques to apply data onto paper. We discuss issues around expressivity and effectiveness of block-printing stamps in authoring visualizations, and identify implications for the design and assembly of primitives in potential visualization stamp kits, as well as applications for future use in non-digital environments.