[IxDA Discuss] Graphical methods for displaying time elapsed

[Jay Morgan]

http://finance.google.com/finance?q=GOOG
Google's finance timeline has stacked graphs that work well to explode/focus
as needed.  You can employ focus/zoom to a time range that relates to an
alarm, perhaps.  Also, note their use of letter tags, which could be adapted
to your alarms.  Play with the timescale a bit to see how letter tags come
into view.

http://simile.mit.edu/timeline/examples/religions/jewish-history.html
This timeline from Simile at MIT has a great "highlight" tool at the
bottom.  Notice the textboxes with color codes.  I entered "Yiddish" at
yellow highlight, "Napoleon" at orange highlight, and "Poland" at the red
highlight, to put them in context.  The highlight applying in both layers is
excellent.  That might allow you a preview/postview of alarms in a larger
scale.  That could be handy for spotting or monitoring trends.


The common aspects are layering and flexibility for focus or zoom.  These
could be assets in the current version as you discover how users will want
and need to focus on alarms as they use the tool and gain expertise.  Also,
as you develop the tool in future versions.

Hope this helps.
I'm still enjoying Peter's "timeline of timelines" article...Thanks, Peter.

- Jay

On 3/2/07, dnp607 <dnp607 at pacbell.net> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm wondering if there are any references out there that discuss
> different graphical methods for displaying time in UI?
>
> The problem: My users will be presented with many alarms over the
> course of a 30 minute time frame. I need to display the alarms (in
> color) in such a way that it gives them a historical perspective of
> 1- When the alarm occurred and 2- What color the alarm was...
>
> So far, I'm contemplating:
>
> 1_  A histogram/strip chart.
>         Benefits: It's a common method for displaying two axis. Could be
> used for one axis as well.
>         Drawbacks: Poor discrimination since most lines are bunched
> together
> tightly. Usually hard to follow for nontechnical users.
>
> 2_ A progress bar (horizontal).
>         Benefits: Commonly used for displaying progress
>         Drawbacks: Perhaps too simple - displaying progress is one thing,
> displaying different colored alarms on a progress bar gets cluttered.
>         Example, where "A" is an alarm with color:
>
>         * * * A * * A *
>         <-----Scrolls
>
> 3_ A timed list (vertical).
>         Benefits: Reads like a log, simple to interpret.
>         Drawbacks: ?
>         Example, where "A" is an alarm with color:
>
>         A Time/Date
>         A Time/Date
>         A Time/Date
>         A Time/Date
>
> ...Are there more? Any comments or suggestions welcome.
>
> Best Regards,
> -Dan
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Dan Peknik * NASA Ames Research Center
>        San Jose State University, ID HF/E
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
Jay Morgan
Applied cognitive scientist practicing information architecture, interaction
design, and corporate culture manipulation